§ 59. Colonel BALDWIN-WEBBasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the Western Electric Company, Limited, of America, has supplied about 2,000 cinemas in this country with talking picture apparatus and in the contract for supply of such apparatus inserted clauses binding the purchaser only to get repairs done or 1989 additional equipment or parts from them; that these clauses prevent British manufacturers from getting valuable orders which they are able to carry out; and whether, as the courts in the United States of America have recently decided that such clauses are illegal and void in that country, he will take steps by legislation to make it illegal to impose such restrictions in this country?
§ Lieut.-Colonel COLVILLEMy attention has been called to the decision in a United States court, to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers. I am informed that the apparatus and the replacement parts are manufactured to a very large extent in this country. As at present advised, my right hon. Friend cannot see his way to introduce legislation on the lines suggested.