HC Deb 11 August 1913 vol 56 cc2043-4
7. Mr. WEDGWOOD

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he can see his way to afford the special protection which is now given to horses, asses, and mules to dogs and cats, as recommended by the majority of the recent Royal Commission; whether the recommendation of the Commission as to pithing has been carried out; and whether special records of experiments are now required, as recommended by the Commission?

Mr. McKENNA

I have given my best consideration to the remarks of the Commission on the first subject—they are so qualified that they can hardly be described as a "recommendation." I am advised that legislation would be necessary to require a special certificate for experiments on dogs and cats in cases where the experiments are carried out wholly under anæsthetics, where the experiments are not wholly under anæsthetics a certificate is now required. I have accepted the recommendations of the Commission as to pithing and special records of experiments, and they are being carried out.