§ 41. Mr. GEORGE GREENWOODasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has considered the Report of the Royal Commission on Vivisection with regard to Dr. Pembrey and Dr. Klein, to the effect that it appeared to the Commissioners that to grant a licence or certificate to any person holding such views as those formerly expressed by Dr. Klein, and as those entertained by Dr. Pembrey, is calculated to create serious misgiving in the minds of the public; whether, notwithstanding such expression of the unanimous opinion of the Commissioners, both Dr. Pembrey and Dr. Klein have been granted by the Home Office licences and certificates for vivisection; if so, what certificates are now held by each of them respectively; and whether he proposes to disregard the opinion of the Commissioners with regard to these gentlemen?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOWIE DEPARTMENT (Mr. McKenna)I am well aware of the passage of the Report of the Royal Commission to which my hon. Friend refers. At the present time Doctors Pembrey and Klein both hold licences with the following certificates:—Dr. Klein, one certificate for inoculations; Dr. Pembrey, two certificates for inoculations; one certificate authorising the administration by inhalation of gases without anæsthetics; two certificates authorising the licensee to permit the animals to recover from the anæsthetic for the purpose of subsequent observation under stringent conditions; two certificates authorising the performance of experiments under anæsthetics in illustration of lectures. The licences were renewed at the beginning of March, 1912, before the Report of the Royal Commission was issued, and they remain in force until the 28th February, 1913. No application for the further renewal of these licences has yet been made. When such application is made I shall, of course, consider the views expressed by the Commissioners before coming to a decision.
§ Colonel LOCKWOODCan the right hon. Gentleman foreshadow his intention of carrying out the recommendations of the Commission?
§ Mr. McKENNAI cannot go beyond the answer I have given.