§ 2.42 p.m.
§ LORD LUCAS OF CHILWORTHMy Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government when it is anticipated that the Report of the Committee set up by the President of the Board of Trade on April 10, 1951, to consider and report on any changes desirable in the copyright law will be ready and published.]
§ THE EARL OF BIRKENHEADMy Lords, I understand that the Copyright Committee are engaged in drafting their Report, but I cannot at present say when it will be published.
§ LORD LUCAS OF CHILWORTHMy Lords, while I appreciate some of the difficulties which the noble Earl is experiencing in this matter, I should like to ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are aware that the Report of this Committee will have great bearing upon subjects which are of considerable moment to your Lordships' House at the present time. During your Lordships' debate upon the B.B.C., for instance, it was pointed out by my noble and learned friend the Leader of the Opposition that the question of copyright is of great moment in the matter of broadcasts of great sporting events. The noble Marquess, Lord Reading, was appointed Chairman of this Committee but, unfortunately for us all, he had to retire from the Chairmanship seven months ago, after, if I may say so, outstandingly good work in getting through a mass of evidence in a very short space of time. I should not have thought it would take seven months to compile the Report, and I press the noble Earl to have this Report submitted to Parliament at the earliest possible moment.
§ THE EARL OF BIRKENHEADI am certain that no one would more resent his judicial prognostications being interrupted by constant mosquito stings of this kind than the noble and learned Earl. This is a very important and extremely complex subject, as the noble Lord, Lord Lucas, knows, and we are fully aware of the ramifications which it involves. I say with due humility that I have as much to complain about in the copyright law, in a literary way, as any noble Lord in this House. I assure him that I shall watch this matter with an attention and avidity which is second only to his own, and possibly greater.