§ Mr. K. Robinsonasked the President of the Board of Trade how many applications for licences under Section 41 of the Patents Act, 1949, have been made in the last five years; how many have been allowed by the Comptroller of Patents to proceed to advertisement; how many of these have proceeded to hearing; how many of them lapsed; how many licences have been granted; how many licences have been refused; how many cases are still undecided; and what are the longest, shortest and average lapses of time between application and decision in respect of those cases which have proceeded to hearing.
§ Mr. ErrollIn the last five years, ten applications have been made for compulsory licences under Section 41 of the Patents Act, 1949. The earliest of these was made in June, 1960, and the latest in November, 1961. All were advertised and three have since been withdrawn. The remaining seven, of which four are from one applicant and are linked together, are still undecided. No hearings have been taken but the four linked applications, which have been opposed, are ready to be heard as soon as it is convenient to both parties.