HC Deb 29 May 1930 vol 239 cc1460-1
27. Mr. FREEMAN

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to a film shown publicly at the Professional Nursing, Midwifery, and Public Health Exhibition, Horticultural Hall, Westminster, on 6th March, 1930, illustrating vivisection experiments on certain animals, including a dog, performed by Dr. H. H. Dale; and, in view of the provisions of the Cruelty to Animals Act, namely, that an experiment must be performed with a view to the advancement of new discovery of physiological knowledge or of knowledge which will be useful for saving or prolonging life or alleviating suffering, what action he proposes to take in the matter?

The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Clynes)

If the hon. Member will refer to Section 3 of the Act, he will see that the words which he quotes are qualified by a proviso which expressly lays down that experiments may be made for the purpose of illustrating lectures in medical schools, hospitals, colleges, or elsewhere, with a view to instruction in physiological knowledge or knowledge which will he useful in saving life or alleviating suffering, on the appropriate certificate (C) being given by the scientific authorities mentioned in the Act. The experiments referred to in the question were performed under the authority of such a certificate, and no action on my part is necessary or possible.

Mr. FREEMAN

Does the right hon. Gentleman consider that a film of this character, exhibited to the public, and not to students only, comes under that category?

Mr. CLYNES

I have referred to the terms of the Act. The proviso in question is highly technical and scientific, and, if my hon. Friend wishes to press any other point, I should require notice of it.

Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

Would my right hon. Friend consider some action in the case of this film, since the very fact of its being shown must be painful to many animal lovers?

Mr. R. S. YOUNG

Has this film been passed by, or submitted to, the London County Council?

Mr. CLYNES

I am afraid that I personally, as representing the Home Office, have no control over the exhibition of films for scientific purposes.