§ 54. Mr. Wyattasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Defence the conditions governing the giving of information to the United States of America about British military inventions; and whether he will arrange that, in future, such information will not be given unless payment and full acknowledgment is made for those British military inventions adopted, either in whole or in part, by the United States Government.
§ Mr. BirchThe conditions are set out in an agreement between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of the United States published as Command 8757. Her Majesty's Government regard them as satisfactory.
§ Mr. WyattIs not the hon Gentleman aware that there is considerable dissatisfaction among British military inventors because they are continually inventing new devices to do with warfare which are taken over by the Americans, and sometimes some slight adjustment is made and no royalties are paid and no acknowledgment is given, and the invention is then claimed as an American invention?
§ Mr. BirchThe agreement provides for the protection of private rights and, in particular, sets up a Technical Property Committee which is a forum for discussing such cases as the hon. Member has in mind.
§ Mr. WyattIt is not only a private question. This applies also to inventions made under the official auspices of the Government.