§ MR. LUPTON (Lincolnshire, Sleaford)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his attention has been called to the vaccination of calves, and to the fact that the calf is strapped down upon the operating table, that its belly is then shaved, that 100 or more cuts are then made with a knife in its belly, and that vaccine matter is then rubbed into these cuts; will he say if the calf is put under anæsthetics during this operation; and 751 whether, in view of the law preventing cruelty to animals, he will cause proceedings to be taken, or, if necessary, introduce legislation to deal with this question.
§ MR. GLADSTONEI have communicated with my right hon. friend the President of the Local Government Board, and I understand that the facts are substantially as stated in the Question. The operation is not an experiment, and therefore does not come within the provisions of the Cruelty to Animals Act, 1876, which is limited to the control of experiments. It is open to any person to take proceedings under the general law relating to cruelty to animals.