§ Mr. FisherTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will list the patents, sold by Her Majesty's Government in 1986 to Royal Ordnance factories, which relate to work undertaken at the Royal Ordnance factory at Radway Green.
§ Mr. Sainsbury[holding answer 4 November 1988]: No patents were sold to Royal Ordnance in 1986. The scheme made by the Secretary of State pursuant to the Ordnance Factories and Military Services Act 1984 transferred to Royal Ordnance assets (including patents) effective 2 January 1985. The document referred to in The Sunday Times article of 30 October was a patent office formality requirement and merely confirmed the earlier transfer.
Of the patents transferred under the scheme none originated at the Royal Ordnance factory, Radway Green.
Work currently undertaken at Radway Green is under the sole control of Royal Ordnance and is its commercial concern. We are unable therefore to comment on whether or not any of the transferred patents relate to work undertaken at Radway Green.