asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now apply for a compulsory licence for the alternative manufacture of ampicillin in order to reduce public expenditure.

It would be for another company to apply for a compulsory licence under section 41 of the Patents Act, 1949, but none has done so. In view of the satisfactory negotiations under the Voluntary Price Regulation Scheme, use of my right hon. Friend's own Patent's Act powers would not at present be justified.