HC Deb 07 May 1936 vol 311 c1858
20. Mr. LEACH

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the recent experiments on rats in which the animals were fed on food commonly used by the poor, the result being the development of rickets and other diseases; and will he consider a prosecution for cruelty to animals?

Mr. LLOYD

I presume the hon. Member is referring to the report of a series of lectures contained in the issue of the British Medical Journal for 29th February last. The experimental research on nutrition referred to therein does not appear to have been performed in this country.

Mr. LEACH

Am I to understand that these experiments were not conducted under the jurisdiction of the hon. Member's Department?

Mr. LLOYD

Yes, that is what I said. The only record that we have of any experiments by this doctor are as to the effect of fat excess upon the development of tadpoles, in 1921.