§ MR. JOHN ELLIS (Nottingham, Rushcliffe)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether the figures of experiments on living animals contained in Return No. 239 of this Session arc obtained from 1342 the licensees who perform them, and in that case whether any steps are taken to verify their accuracy; (2) whether each of the "licensed places" was inspected during the year to which the Return relates, and how many of them more than. once; whether any of the visits of inspection were surprise visits, and, if so, how many; and (3) 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 are contemplated by the Cruelty to Animals Act, 1876?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. JESSE COLLINGS,) Birmingham, BordesleyYes, the returns are obtained from the licensees, and the check, of course, upon them is supplied by the visits of the inspectors, which with a few exceptions, are paid without, notice. Four registered places at which no licences were in force, and the laboratory attached to the Board of Agriculture, winch was only registered on the 1st of December, were unvisited during the year. Five places were visited once ally, eight twice, 25 three times, two four times, three five times, and one six times. No licensee was found during any of these visits to he exceeding his powers. The answer to the last paragraph of the Question is in the affirmative.