69. Mr. CHANCELLORasked the Home Secretary whether, although the Cruelty to Animals Act, 1876, purports to 1055 protect animals from suffering through vivisectional experiments, persons licensed under the Act are allowed to hold certificates enabling them to perform experiments without anæsthetics and to keep animals alive after the effects of the anæsthetic have passed off; and whether his attention has been called to the statement made before the Royal Commission by Sir William Byrne, of the Home Office, that the framework of the Act was to lay down a number of very strict conditions and then to allow all except three to be removed by certificate; and whether, under these circumstances, he can see his way to introduce legislation dealing with this state of affairs?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe Act provides for the grant of the special certificates referred to, but the scope and operation of these certificates cannot conveniently be stated within the limits of an answer in the House. They are fully described in the Report of the Royal Commission, and it is, I believe, well known that vivisection in the sense of cutting operations without anæsthetics is not allowed in this country. I am aware of the statement quoted, and can only repeat what I said in reply to a question the other day, that all the recommendations of the Royal Commission are being carefully considered.
72. Mr. CHANCELLORasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware of the complaints made by vivisectors at the exhibition in shop windows in Piccadilly, Oxford Street, and elsewhere, of instruments used by them in the vivisection of animals, and of illustrations and descriptions of vivisectional experiments which are reproduced from medical papers; and whether he can see his way to introduce a short Bill to abolish the practice?
May I explain that the word "practice" at the end refers not to the exhibitions but to vivisection which makes such exhibitions necessary.
§ Mr. McKENNAI am aware that complaints have been made of certain methods adopted by the opponents of vivisection on the ground that they are calculated to mislead the public. The complaints appear from the Report of the Royal Commission to be well founded; but a measure to prevent misrepresentation in matters of controversy seems to me at present to be outside the region of practical politics.