§ 15. Mr. DAVID GRENFELLasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied that no physical cruelty is being used to make the horses engaged in rodeo riding performances behave abnormally; and if he will require a careful inspection to be made with the view to discover whether there is pain or discomfort caused to the horses before or on entering the ring?
§ Sir J. GILMOURI am informed by the Commissioner of Police that the reports which he has received do not disclose any grounds for action on his part. As regards the second part of the question, I am not aware of any power enabling the police to carry out any such inspection as is suggested.
§ Mr. GRENFELLIs the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that these inquiries and reports made to the chief inspector of police are based on information taken inside the ring itself, or are they reports by persons who have not made such inspection?
§ Sir J. GILMOURI have not read all these reports, but undoubtedly the people who made them were present.
§ Mr. ANSTRUTHER-GRAYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that these horses trot away quite contentedly as soon as they have disposed of their drivers, and is there any reason why horses should not work for their keep as well as anybody else?