§ MR. J. E. ELLIS (Nottingham, Rushcliffe)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the great and continuous increase in the practice of experiments upon living animals, as indicated by the facts that whereas in 1878 27 persons held licences of which they made use and performed 481 experiments, in 1892 125 persons held licences of which they made use and performed 3,960 experiments; whether he has satisfied himself that the licences and certificates are all issued only to such places and persons, and with such objects as were contemplated by "The Cruelty to Animals Act, 1876:" whether every "licensed place" was visited during the year 1892: how many places received more than two visits; and whether he is satisfied that the system of inspection is such as to secure the observance of the conditions on which the licences and certificates are issued?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. ASQUITH,) Fife, E.The figures given by my hon. Friend in the first paragraph are correct. The chief reason for the rise in number is to be found in the increased facilities afforded for such researches by improved methods of anæsthetisation and the antiseptic treatment of wounds. By far the largest proportion of the additional experiments in 1892 as compared with 1891 were cases of simple inoculation and were chiefly performed on behalf of the Royal Commission on Tuberculosis. The answer to the second paragraph is—Yes. The qualifications of every licensee are strictly inquired into, and, with two exceptions, there is no licensed place on the I register which is not in a recognised college or public institution. (3) Every licensed place where experiments were performed was visited during the year 1892. (4) There were 21 places visited more than twice. (5) I am satisfied that the system of inspection is such as to secure the object described in the last paragraph of the question.
§ COLONEL LOCKWOOD (Essex, Epping)Are the visits of the Inspectors known beforehand, or are they surprise visits?
§ MR. ASQUITHIn some cases they are known beforehand; in others not.