HC Deb 16 May 1944 vol 400 cc29-30
53. Mr. Wakefield

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that although patent grants state that a patentee will enjoy the whole profit of his invention, inventors are not allowed to recover their expenses; that if an inventor spent £100,000 in perfecting an invention it would be necessary for him to collect £4,000,000 in royalties within the 16 years' life of the patent merely to reimburse himself; and what action is he proposing to take to remedy this unsatisfactory position.

Sir J. Anderson

As I mentioned in my Budget speech, the position of patents in relation to the assessment of trading profits is one of the matters that are receiving consideration in connection with the postwar taxation of industry, and I am quite prepared to examine, at the same time, the question whether anything can be done to meet the point raised by my hon. Friend.

Mr. Wakefield

While thanking my right hon. Friend for his reply, may I ask him whether he will take particular care to see that the personal position of individual inventors, which has been rather overlooked, will be borne in mind in the future?