Colonel Wheatley:

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he proposes in the near future to introduce legislation with a view to reducing the cost of taking out patent rights.

No, Sir. The Swan Committee on the Patents and Designs Acts considered this matter and recommended no change in the present scheme.

Colonel Wheatley:

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a great many very useful inventions are lost to the public because of the cost to the inventor of taking out patent rights?

I shall have to consider all questions about patent legislation. The hon. and gallant Gentleman will be aware that I have already taken steps to secure the better exploitation of inventions.