HL Deb 11 May 1948 vol 155 cc753-4

3.17 p.m.

Amendments reported (according to Order).

Clause 1 [The National Research Development Corporation]:

LORD CHORLEY moved to add to the clause: (4) The Corporation shall, except where it appears to them that special circumstances Otherwise require, exercise their function of securing the exploitation of any invention by entrusting the exploitation thereof, on terms appearing to the Corporation to be appropriate, to persons engaged in the industry concerned.")

The noble Lord said: My Lords, I beg to move the Amendment standing in the name of my noble friend Lord Hall. Your Lordships will remember that on the Committee stage an Amendment was moved by the noble Viscount, Lord Swinton. There was some discussion upon it, and he withdrew the Amendment on the understanding that a Government Amendment would be submitted to secure the object which he had in view. This is the Amendment. The object is to place some limitation on the power of the Corporation to engage in manufacture on its own account or through some subsidiary company, and to provide that so far as may be practicable exploitation of these, inventions shall be carried out through ordinary industrial channels. I hope the noble Viscount will agree that these words meet his point and that your Lordships will accept them. I beg to move.

Amendment moved— Page 2, line 15, at end insert the said subsection.—(Lord Chorley.)

VISCOUNT SWINTON

My Lords, I am much obliged to the noble Lord for carrying out so amply the undertaking which the First Lord gave us on the last occasion. I think the words of this Amendment are an improvement upon my rather amateur drafting. They at any rate make it plain what is the policy. They are, I suppose, what I may call a general direction to whomsoever is conducting this business in the future that, unless there are special circumstances, the manufacture of the articles shall be carried out by private enterprise and that the Corporation shall not engage in the manufacture themselves. I am obliged to the noble Lord for having phrased the Amendment in the way he has. I think it meets my point and I gladly accept it.

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

Then, Standing Order No. XXXIX having been suspended (pursuant to the Resolution of May 6), Bill read 3ª; Amendments (Privilege) made. Bill passed and sent to the Commons.