HC Deb 21 July 1936 vol 315 cc275-6W
Captain STRICKLAND

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action he proposes to take to secure that the report of the departmental committee in favour of the Government securing power at the Brussels International Convention to promote legislation for the control of fee collecting societies, such as the Performing Rights Society, shall be implemented; and whether he will make representations that the postponed conference should be held in the early part of 1937, or whether, in view of the uncontrolled taxing rights of this society, he will give notice that from a fixed date the British Government reserves the right to promote legislation to control or regulate the demands of such societies?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

A proposal for the amendment of Article 11 of the Rome Copyright Convention, 1928, as recommended in paragraph 117 of the Report of the Departmental Committee on International Copyright, has been placed on the Agenda for the Brussells Conference of the Berne Copyright Union in the name of this country. Having regard to the opinion expressed by the Departmental Committee in paragraph 119 of their report, I see no necessity at the present time to take the further action suggested in the second and third parts of the question.