Mr. Gresham Cookeasked the President of the Board of Trade when he authorised the new arrangements under which the Mechanical Copyright Protection Society charges a royalty of 1s. per work per disc or tape copy of musical records imported into the United Kingdom; whether he is aware that this involves a fee of 12s. a disc containing 12 copyright tunes; and whether, in view of the substantial import duty already imposed on gramophone records imported into this country and the desirability of avoiding retaliatory measures which may damage the export of British gramophone records and tape recordings, he will investigate this matter with a view to remedial action.
§ Mr. MaudlingNo question of my authorisation arises. This appears to be a case of copyright owners laying down the conditions under which they are prepared to license the importation of records of musical works in which they own copyright. These rights they enjoy by virtue of the Copyright Act, 1956. I have not been consulted and have, in any case, no power to intervene.