§ 3. Mr. H. WILLIAMSasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the post-marking machines used in the Post Office are made in the United States of America; whether he can state if these machines are protected by British patents; and, if so, whether such patents will be cancelled if manufacture of the machines is not in future carried on in this country?
Sir P. CUNLIFEL-LISTERI am informed that the machines used by the Post Office for the obliteration of postage stamps are made abroad, some by Norwegian and some by American firms. In reply to the second part of the question, it has only been possible to identify one current British patent, the specification of which describes machines of a kind similar to one of the types of machine in use. As regards the third part, it is open to any person interested who alleges that a patented intention is not being worked in the United Kingdom on a commercial scale, to apply to the Patent Office, under Section 27 of the Patents Acts, 1907 and 1919, for a licence under the patent or, as an alternative, the revocation of the patent. No revocation can be ordered or licence granted under the Section unless application be made for that purpose.