HC Deb 12 July 1932 vol 268 cc1102-3
33. Mr. GROVES

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the total number of experiments performed under licence by vivisectionists in Great Britain during 1930 and 1931 and The number where anaesthetics were compulsorily used?

The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME OFFICE (Mr. Oliver Stanley)

The figures for 1930 are given in the Annual Return of Experiments on Living Animals which was published last year. The return for 1931 is in course of preparation and will, I hope, be published shortly.

Mr. GROVES

If I cannot get them from that source, will the hon. Gentleman try to let me have them?

Mr. STANLEY

Perhaps the hon. Member will approach me on the subject.

34. Mr. GROVES

asked the Home Secretary this number of certificates granted by the Home Office in 1930, 1931, and 1932, respectively, to vivisectors for special experiments in feeding, including the giving of such diets that the animals cannot be sustained in life; what reports his Department receives upon the scientific results of such experiments; and whether he will consider refusing to grant any further permits for such practices?

Mr. STANLEY

Experiments in feeding are carried on for many different purposes and it would require a long and laborious search to get the information asked for. My right hon. Friend regrets that he would not be justified in undertaking it. Every licence holder is required by a condition of his licence to furnish the Department with a copy of any paper which he may publish containing a description of his experiments. The power of granting certificates does not rest with the Secretary of State. Section 11 of the Act confers it on the scientific authorities there specified.

Mr. GROVES

May I ask who appoints the body of scientific authorities which is responsible for issuing these certificates?

Mr. STANLEY

If the hon. Member will read the Act, he will find it all set out there.

Mr. GROVES

May I ask the hon. Gentleman to what Act he is referring?

Mr. STANLEY

The appropriate Act.

35. Mr. GROVES

asked the Home Secretary if he is aware that certificates granted by his Department to authorise vivisection experiments upon animals include operations which entail cutting out organs of the body and keeping the animals alive as long as possible under these conditions; and whether his Department imposes the obligation of the use of an anaesthetic in these cases?

Mr. STANLEY

The Home Office has no power to grant any certificates; this can only be done by the scientific authorities specified in Section 11 of the Act. If the hon. Member will refer to the report prefixed each year to the Annual Return of Experiments, he will find it explained that in all experiments under Certificate B the operative procedures are done under anaesthetics.