§ Mr. Spriggsasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the Performing Rights Society Limited furnishes his Department with an annual balance sheet; whether those who meet its assessments are provided, as of right, to a copy of those returns; what machinery exists for the purpose of appealing against the Performing Rights Society assessment of licence fees; to whom, and where, should notice of appeal be sent; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NobleThe Performing Rights Society Limited is not obliged to, and does not furnish the Department of Trade and Industry with a copy of its annual balance sheet; but like other limited companies it is required by the Companies Acts to file with the Registrar of Companies copies of its annual balance sheets and accounts, and any person is entitled to inspect these copies on payment of a small fee. The persons on whom the Society levies its fees are not entitled as of right to receive a copy of the Society's balance sheets.
The Society has formulated various licence schemes, which it calls tariffs, in respect of different types and sizes of establishments on the basis of which its charges are calculated. Any person requiring a licence, or any organisation representing such persons, is entitled to appeal to the Performing Right Tribunal against the terms of the relevant licence scheme. The Performing Right Tribunal was set up under the Copyright Act, 1956 21W in order to decide disputes between collecting organisations such as the Performing Rights Society Ltd., and would-be users of works controlled by those organisations. Notice of an appeal should be sent to The Secretary, Performing Right Tribunal, Room 105, 25 Southampton Buildings, London, WC2A 1AY.