§ Commander BELLAIRSasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will endeavour through the trades concerned to procure a list of all imported products that we have now to obtain from abroad owing to superior inventions, with a view to considering the development of substituted British inventions to be produced in this country?
§ Mr. W. R. SMITHMuch has already been done by co-operation between His Majesty's Government and various industries in the organisation of research and the encouragement of invention. The research associations for particular industries48W naturally direct their attention to matters in which British methods of production appear capable of improvement.
§ Commander BELLAIRSasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the fact that in certain cases inventions have been made and work kept in this country by prizes being offered by individuals and corporations for inventions of British design embodying the latest requirements, he will consult the research branch of the Imperial Economic Committee as to setting aside a sum of money to supplement cases where a substantial amount is provided by private means?
§ Mr. GILLETTAs regards the general question of the encouragement of invention in this country, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given to-day to his other question on the subject. As regards the particular suggestion he makes here, however, it must be pointed out that the Imperial Economic Committee only inquires into matters referred to it with the consent of all the Governments of the Empire, and that it has, in fact, no research branch, and no funds at its disposal.