§ SIR D. MACFARLANE (Argyll)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his attention has been called to the decision of two of Her Majesty's Judges that lions kept in cages, not being domestic animals, are not protected against cruel treatment under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, and whether, that being the law, it is in the power of anyone, for gain or otherwise, to inflict whatever torture they please upon such animals without liability to prosecution or punishment; and whether he proposes to introduce a Bill to amend the Act?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. ASQUITH,) Fife, E.The effeet of the decision appears to be in substance as stated in the question. The subject seems to be a very proper one for further legislation, but I cannot hope to deal with it this Session.
§ SIR D. MACFARLANEIs it not a fact that any person for monetary or other reasons may inflict any amount of torture on animals which are not domestic, and need further legislation go beyond the omission of the word "domestic" in the Cruelty to Animals Act?
§ MR. ASQUITHI cannot, without further consideration, give an opinion as to the amount of legislation that would be necessary to carry out the views of the hon. Member. Any legislation, however, will occupy time.