§ 81. Mr. MALONEasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether any royalties have been paid in respect of any of the patents held by Squadron-Leader Scott and Lieut.-Colonel Richmond relating to airships; whether any of these patents have been developed by public money; whether the Air Ministry has any control over these patents; and what is the position as regards the future value of these patents?
§ Mr. MONTAGUEThe answer to the first part of the question is that no royalties have been paid by the Air Ministry. As regards the second and third parts, some of the inventions covered by the patents have been developed by public money and are embodied in airship R 101. The Air Ministry has the right of user of these inventions for the service of the Crown in any part of the world free of royalty or other payment and has also certain control over the commercial rights in the inventions under agreements with the inventors. The answer to the last part of the question is that it is not possible to forecast the future value of the patents.