HC Deb 23 July 1930 vol 241 cc2155-6
59. Mr. FREEMAN

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what licence were the experiments in cancer research made by painting mice with tobacco tar in the Birmingham General Hospital recently; and whether he can say what results have been obtained?

The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Short)

The experiments referred to were performed under Certificate A. They were not done at the General Hospital, Birmingham, which is not registered under the Act, but at the Pathological Laboratory of the University of Birmingham. My right hon. Friend is not in a position to make any statement as to the results of the experiments.

Mr. FREEMAN

Will the Under-Secretary consider the desirability of withholding licences for such cruel and useless experiments

Dr. DAVIES

Is the hon. Member right in saying that it was done at the Pathological Laboratory; and may we take it that the Home Office is in favour of any experiments which may help to find the cause of cancer and save the lives of human beings?