§ Sir HENRY NORMANasked the Postmaster-General if he has taken the opinion of the Law Officers of the Crown upon the question whether the patents of the Marconi Company, and the assistance of the staff of that company, for the erection and operation of Imperial wireless stations, were not secured by a cash payment for the Post Office by the agreement of 29th September, 1909; if so, will he lay those opinions upon the Table; and, if not, will he submit the question to the Law Officers and lay their replies upon the Table before concluding any contract?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELI have not taken the opinion of the Law Officers on1594W. this question, nor do I propose to do so, having been advised by the solicitor to the Post Office that there is clearly no foundation for the suggestion made by the hon. Member. The rights granted by the agreement of 29th September, 1909, were granted for use at stations in the United Kingdom, and not elsewhere. Further, under Clause 3 of the Agreement, if the Postmaster-General desires to use the patents in the United Kingdom for any communication with any station in a British possession or any foreign country, such use is to be on such terms as may be agreed on, or settled in accordance with the provisions of Section 29 of the Patents Act. Therefore, as regards the use of the patents in the United Kingdom for any such communication, no fresh rights beyond the Postmaster-General's existing statutory right were granted by the Agreement of 1909.