§ Major GLYNasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much money has been paid and to what number of persons on the claims of inventors against the Government in connection with the War, and what percentage does this sum represent of the total sum claimed; whether the Royal Commission on Awards to Inventors can now be discharged; and, if not, whether a time limit can be set to that Commission's activities?
§ Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCEThe amount of money paid under awards of the Royal Commission since their appointment in March, 1919, is approximately £1,334,000, and the number of cases with which they have dealt is 1,794. I have no particulars of awards made before March, 1919, nor is it possible to distinguish between payments for inventions which were of service in the War and other payments. As regards the third part of the question, I am informed that in a large number of cases no specific amount was claimed by the applicant, and I am unable therefore to state the percentage. With regard to the last part of the question, although the Commission has a few cases only outstanding, I am not in a position to make any announcement as to the future.