§ 85. Mr. GEORGE GREENWOODasked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the memorandum signed by three of the Royal Commissioners on Vivisection in which they state their opinion that the weight of evidence is opposed to the view that only administrative modifications are required in order to give effect to the changes which experience proves to be desirable in the law relating to experiments on living animals, and further express their doubt whether such modifications as are suggested in the Report signed by all the Commissioners can be adequately carried out without legislation; and whether he will consider the desirability of introducing legislation in the next Session of Parliament in order to give effect to such recommendations?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. McKenna)I have carefully considered the memorandum in question and the desirability of introducing legislation, and I am satisfied that no legislation is necessary for the purpose of giving substantial effect to the recommendations of the Commission mentioned in this memorandum.
§ Mr. G. GREENWOODIs it the right hon. Gentleman's opinion that all the recommendations made by the Royal Commission on Vivisection can be carried into effect without new legislation?
§ Mr. McKENNAYes. I am satisfied that no legislation is necessary for the purpose of giving substantial effect to the recommendations of the Commission.
§ Mr. G. GREENWOODThe right hon. Gentleman has said that he is ready to take the undivided responsibility. Is not the responsibility now by statutory enactment—by the Act of 1876—divided between himself and certain learned authorities?
§ Mr. McKENNAI will look further into that point.
§ 88. Mr. G. GREENWOODasked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the fact that the Cruelty to Animals Act, 1876, by statutory enactment divides the responsibility in regard to experiments on living animals, in the matter of the granting of licences and certificates to experimenters, between the Secretary of State and certain learned authorities, whereas the Royal Commissioners on Vivisection were unanimously of opinion that such responsibility should rest upon the Secretary of State alone, he will introduce legislation to amend the Act of 1876 in this respect?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe majority of the Commission were of opinion that no change was necessary or desirable with regard to the present system of granting licences and certificates. I do not propose to introduce legislation on this matter. The Secretary of State has power to disallow or suspend any ceritficate, and the final responsibility therefore rests with him.
§ Mr. G. GREENWOODDid not the Commissioners unanimously recommend that the responsibility should be undivided upon the Secretary of State?
§ Mr. McKENNAYes. That is the same question as my hon. Friend has already put. I will look further into that point. 950 I may remind him, from the answer I have just given, that the ultimate responsibility rests solely upon the Secretary of State now.
§ Mr. SWIFT MacNEILLIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Secretary of State has never suspended any certificate, and that vivisectionists have had a free hand?
§ Mr. McKENNAI am not aware of that.
§ 89. Mr. G. GREENWOODasked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the recommendation made in the memorandum signed by three of the Royal Commissioners on Vivisection, and attached to the Report, that a provision should be inserted in the Act regulating experiments upon living animals requiring all experimenters in every case in which obvious suffering of the animal has supervened forthwith painlessly to destroy such animal; and whether he will introduce legislation in order to give effect to such recommendation?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. My hon. Friend will no doubt be aware that the majority of the Commission were of opinion that the object in view could be sufficiently attained by means of the Secretary of State's power of attaching conditions to licences, and I am taking steps to carry out this recommendation. In the circumstances legislation appears to me to be unnecessary.
§ 90. Mr. G. GREENWOODasked the Home Secretary whether, in the appointment of inspectors of places registered for the performance of experiments upon living animals, he will have regard to the recommendation made in the memorandum attached to the Report of the Royal Commission on Vivisection, and signed by Colonel LockWood, Sir William Collins, and Dr. G. Wilson, to the effect that persons qualified in veterinary medicine and science ought not to be deemed ineligible for any of such inspectorships?
§ Mr. McKENNAI think this is a matter in which I ought to be generally guided by the advice of the majority of the Commission. I do not say that in no circumstances would I consider an application from a person qualified only in veterinary medicine and science, but I have invited applications from medical men, and I do not doubt that qualified candidates will be forthcoming.