21. Mr. GREENWOODasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the Imperial Institute cannot be lawfully used for any purposes other than those mentioned in the charter of incorporation and specified in the First Schedule of the Imperial Institute (Transfer) Act, 1902, or such other similar purposes as the Colonial Office may determine having regard to the commercial, industrial, and educational interests of the Empire; whether he is advised that such other similar purposes must be purposes ejusdem generis as those set forth in the said Schedule; and whether he is advised that experiments upon living animals are such similar purposes within the meaning of Section 3 of the said Act?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI have no doubt that these questions were fully considered when the University of London was put in occupation of a portion of the Imperial Institute building. I do not feel called upon to define the term "similar purpose" in the Act of 1902, and I do not admit that any breach of trust has been committed.
Mr. GREENWOODHas the right hon. Gentleman taken counsel's opinion on this matter, or will he do so, and is he advised that such experiments as those mentioned 1536 in the question are for similar purposes-to those set forth in the Schedule to the Act of 1902 within the meaning of the Act, because that is the whole question?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWAs I have already informed the hon. Member, these questions had to be considered at the time the arrangement was made with the London University. I could take no action except by evicting the university.
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI hope not; but at all events it is not the duty of the Colonial Office to prevent its doing so.
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI can see no reason for taking such a step now.