§ Mr. Mitchisonasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the result of a search applied for during this month in the Trade Marks 473W Registry is not likely to be available for about nine months; what is the average time now taken between application and result in such searches; and, in view of the public inconvenience caused by delay, what steps are being taken to expedite searches and the communication of their results.
§ Mr. BelcherYes, Sir; the average time between the filing of an application for registration of a trade mark and the issue of the result of the official search is at present about ten months. Substantial arrears of work have accumulated unavoidably owing to the inability of a diminished staff to cope with a heavy increase in the number of applications over the prewar figures. A considerable proportion of the staff of the Trade Marks Registry was released for war services. All possible steps are being taken to secure their return, and to obtain additional staff, in order that the delay in communicating the result of the official search may be rapidly and progressively reduced.