§ Sir C. MARKSasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the Report 281W on scientific property prepared by the League of Nation's Committee on intellectual co-operation that has been communicated to the council and other delegates to the assembly for consideration at the next annual session in 1924, in which Report recommendations are made at, in connection with all discoveries hereafter, all the uses and commercial benefits that may follow upon the practical development by others of such discoveries shall be subject to payment of profit or royalty to the author not only for his life but to his heirs for 50 years after his death; and whether, in view of the fact that no patent can be granted in this or in any other country for any invention which seeks to cover a principle and thus create a monopoly in a discovery unless it is embodied in new and practical means or methods for employing the principle, instructions will be given to our representatives upon the Council of the League not to approve this Report, as such proposals will be not only detrimental to the development of British industries but contrary to all patent laws of the British Empire?
§ Mr. PONSONBYThe Report in question is under consideration by the Departments concerned, and I shall not be in a position to state the views of the Government until their reports have been received.