§ 60. Mr. Ellis Smithasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the Government, or any firm manufacturing on behalf of the Government, are paying or allowing or crediting any royalty to any non-British firm, or is any payment to be made in the future for royalties on any products manufactured for war purposes; if so, will he arrange for the names of the firms, and amounts allowed, to be printed in the OFFICIAL REPORT?
§ The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Captain Crookshank)For the position regarding enemy-owned patents, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade to the hon. Member for Barnard Castle (Mr. Sexton) on 25th June last. As regards other foreign patents, the normal procedure is followed. Disclosure of names and amounts would not be in the public interest.