§ MR. J. E. ELLIS (Nottingham, Rushcliffe)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the figures of experiments on living animals, contained in Return No. 103 of this Session, are obtained by the Department from the licensees who perform the experiments, and in that case whether any steps are taken to verify their accuracy; who is the judge as to whether severe pain has been induced, which necessitates the killing of the animal, which is a condition of Certificates A, or A + E, or A + F; whether each of the 56 licensed places has been visited during the year, and how many more than once; 1391 whether any of the 121 visits of inspection were surprise visits; and, if so, how many; and whether he has personally 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?"
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. ASQUITH,) Fife, E.The Returns are made by the licensees, and no reason has hitherto been found to doubt their accuracy. The licensee must necessarily be the judge of the fact at the time whether the severe pain has been produced which necessitates the killing of the animal. All the licensed places actually in use have been inspected in the course of the year—19 twice, 20 three times, and several four or five times. The visits of the Inspector are as often made without notice as with notice, and 109 visits were so made without notice during the year in question. The operation of the Act is carefully watched in the Home Office, and I am satisfied that the licences and certificates are issued only to such places and persons and with such objects as are contemplated by the Act.
§ MR. J. E. ELLISAm I to understand that the licensee is the judge as to whether severe pain has been induced?
§ MR. ASQUITHYes, necessarily so. Nobody else could be the judge.