§ MR. SMEATONI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the salaries paid to the English inspectors of vivisection, Mr. Thane and Sir James Russell; whether out of 2,506 operation experiments made last year, only fifteen were witnessed by the senior inspector; whether the Home Office grants vivisection licences on the recommendation of the Research Association; and whether 1805 this association exists for the protection and promotion of vivisection.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Gladstone,) Leeds, W.The remuneration of the inspector under the Cruelty to Animals Act, 1876, is 500 guineas, and that of the assistant inspector 350 guineas. The number of operation experiments witnessed by Mr. Thane in 1905 was fifteen; the number was smaller than usual in consequence of the inspector being absent on sick leave for some weeks. Among the objects of the Association for the Advancement of Medicine by Research are the protection of the interests of licensees and the publication of literature on the importance of research. Applications for licences and new certificates are sent to the association for observations; but the Secretary of State forms his own opinion in each case, after considering the reports of his own expert advisers, and the responsibility rests with him.
§ MR. SMEATONIs not the salary of the Irish inspector £50 a year?
§ *MR. SPEAKERThe hon. Gentleman must give notice of any Question involving figures.