§ 43. Mr. J. Hudsonasked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to implement the recommendation of the Copyright Committee that the tariffs payable to collecting societies of a monopolistic or quasi-monopolistic character should be subject to independent review.
§ Mr. H. StraussLegislation would be required to give effect to this recommendation. All the recommendations in the Report are being carefully considered.
§ Mr. HudsonIn the consideration given to this matter, will the Board of Trade take into account the fact that the gramophones which are played at shows, and meetings and on other occasions, have an extremely high fee charged upon them, fees which are described in the Copyright Report as arbitrarily imposed? As the Copyright Report suggested that there 1906 should be a review of these fees, can nothing be done about it in the meantime before legislation is introduced?
§ Mr. StraussI agree with the hon. Gentleman that this is an important recommendation, but it would require legislation. All the recommendations of the Report are being carefully considered. I dare say the hon. Member will recall that there are no fewer than 67 principal recommendations in the Report.