§ Mr. MIDDLETONasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any claims by the Marconi Company against the Government are outstanding; if so, the number and the respective amounts of such claims; why a settlement is delayed; and whether there is any prospect of an early settlement?
§ Mr. BALDWINClaims by the Marconi Company against the Government are outstanding in respect of the use of the company's patents by the Admiralty, War Office and Air Ministry and in respect of the company's services to the Post Office during the War and also in respect of the future payments, if any, to be made for the use of the company's patents by the Post Office in connection with the Imperial Wireless Chain. I do not think it advisable to refer to the amounts involved in the claims under discussion. In reply to the third part of the question, the late Government decided that there must be a comprehensive settlement of all these claims rather than individual settlements, and this has necessarily caused some delay. I can only say, in reply to the fourth part of the question, that negotiations are being pursued.