A patents enquiry committee was appointed which went into the entire details of patents system and formulated proposals based on U.K. Pattern. That was introduced in December, 2003 but it lapsed I do not think that the government can convince this country or outside that this piece of proposed legislation lapsed because of lack of time. We are not so innocent asall that we could not find time for an important law when we require this law to be passed or to be given a shape bcause of the requirements of rapid technological developments in the country. Does it create a good impression? The whole world has always been talking about our patents. In the last twelve years, we have not been able to do anything. The government has not come forward with its mind up and it is really a great tragedy that this bill is one of the many instances of how much confusion there is in the thinking of the government vis-a-vis modern requirements of economic development. This is only one instance. I had not intention to take part in this debate, but looking at the different points of view which different hon. Members have put forward, I think, I should mention the position as it is with regard to groundnut oil. It isa commodity the production of which varies from year to year. It has got, to a large extent, to depend on the climate, rain and so forth. It is difficult to evaluate the crop because groundnut is grown in different parts of the country and it begins to move in one part in October and November and in some other parts in December and Janaury. Therefore, it is difficult to evaluate the exact position or groundnut. Besides, we do not have correct data as regards the crop. Unfortunately, our statistics with regard to agricultural production are meager and it is difficult to know exactly what the crops are of different commodities, and therefore, it is difficult to evaluate even the crops.
