§ 72. Sir H. BRITTAINasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department if foreign typewriters on which British patents have been taken out are imported as complete machines or assembled in this country; and whether he will inform the House the number of firms in the British Empire manufacturing typewriting machines which are used in Government offices in London?
Mr. SAMUELSo far as I am aware, foreign typewriters are not imported in parts and assembled in this country. I am informed by the Stationery Office that three firms in the British Empire manufacture typewriting machines which are used in Government offices in London.
§ Sir H. BRITTAINIs it not the fact that by the Patents and Designs Act, 1919, foreign patents should be cancelled if they continue to be worked outside the United Kingdom?
§ Sir H. BRITTAINWhy is it not carried out?
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYWill the hon. Gentleman continue to see that the best and cheapest typewriters are engaged in Government offices, no matter what their origin?
§ 115. Colonel Sir ARTHUR HOLBROOKasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of typewriters of foreign manufacture used in the Govern- 27 meat offices; and whether he will consider the issue of instructions that only typewriters of British manufacture shall in future be supplied to public Departments?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Ronald McNeill)Of the typewriters in use at the present time in Government offices approximately 24,700 are of foreign manufacture. They were nearly all purchased during the War at a time when no satisfactory British machine was available. Since the War the requirements of the Departments have been met almost entirely from the large stock which became surplus at the Stationery Office when the War ended, and if economy is to be studied they should continue to be so met in the main for a few years. Nevertheless the Stationery Office have acquired small numbers of British machines and will continue to do so. They are making prolonged tests of the efficiency and durability of the machines of home manufacture and are anxious to find a satisfactory machine for future requirements.
Sir F. HALLIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the city offices do not require a vast amount of testing with regard to these typewriters? They are perfectly aware of the nature of the typewriters which they use, and would that not be so in the Stationery Office?
§ Mr. McNEILLThe requirements of a Government Office are quite different.
Sir F. HALLIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in the commercial houses in the City there are all sorts of requirements, so that there cannot be any difference in the case of the Stationery Office?
Mr. BECKETTHas the right hon. Gentleman's Department received any representations from Buckingham Palace with regard to buying typewriters?
§ Sir WILLIAM DAVISONMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman what typewriters are used for in Government Departments?
§ Mr. McNEILLFor doing typewriting work.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYMay I ask, not arising out of the last 28 answer but out of the original answer, is the Financial Secretary to the Treasury bearing in mind the danger of a ring of British typewriter manufacturers, and is he proposing to confine Government purchases to British makers only irrespective of cost or quality?
§ Mr. McNEILLYes, Sir; I am assiduously bearing that in mind.
§ Sir H. BRITTAINWill the right hon. Gentleman promise to give encouragement to the three British firms whenever he can?
§ Mr. McNEILLYes, Sir.
§ Captain GEEIs it not a fact that there are sufficient typewriters which have been reconstructed as a result of the War to last the Stationery Office for many years to come?
§ Mr. McNEILLThe stock to be drawn upon will, in normal circumstances, probably last for about another two years.