§ 1. Mr. DAYasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will state the surplus of income derived from the fees and charges made for patents for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date; and whether the work of the Patent Office is at present in arrear and the average length of time that elapses for applicants of original patents to receive official notification of the result of examination and search?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. William. Graham)As regards the first part of the question, the surplus of receipts over expenditure for the Patent Office as a whole amounted to £147,840 in the year 1928; there are, however, no figures available showing the surplus of income derived from patent fees and charges apart from fees and charges for trade marks, designs and other industrial property. As regards the second part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answers which were given on 4th February to the hon. Member for Farnham (Mr. A. M. Samuel) regarding the steps taken to cope with the arrears of work of the Patent Office due to the increase in the number of applications for patents, and on 18th February to the hon. Member for Torquay (Mr. C. Williams) respecting the time taken to deal with such applications.
§ Mr. ARTHUR MICHAEL SAMUELHas there been an improvement since I put the question in the first instance?
§ Mr. GRAHAMYes, Sir, but the addition to staff proceeds by examination.
§ Mr. SAMUELCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether he has been able to increase the technical staff?
§ Mr. GRAHAMWe are taking steps to get it at the earliest possible moment.