HC Deb 13 November 1956 vol 560 cc734-5
24. Mr. Bottomley

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much foreign currency is earned and spent by payment of royalties on patents.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Mr. Harold Macmillan)

Payments to non-sterling countries in respect of royalties, licences and purchase of proprietary rights, excluding royalties on literary, musical, dramatic and artistic works and films, and royalties paid by oil and mining companies operating overseas, amounted in the year ending 30th September, 1956, to just over £13 million. I regret that figures of earnings are not available.

Mr. Bottomley

Is it possible to get figures of earnings so that we may see whether in fact we are still taking the lead as a country of inventors, with "know-how" to sell, and thus be able to derive some encouragement?

Mr. Macmillan

I wish we could get the figures. The right hon. Gentleman will appreciate that the only possible source for these figures is from the Exchange Control records, and they deal with outward payments. Though estimates might be made, there is no real machinery of which I know for getting the inward payments, which do not go through Exchange Control.

Mr. H. Wilson

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how much of those royalties are payable in dollars?

Mr. Macmillan

No, Sir, not without notice.