HC Deb 12 April 1945 vol 409 cc1981-2
64. Mr. W. J. Brown

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will consider appointing Government veterinary surgeons to take charge on dog racing tracks in Britain.

Mr. H. Morrison

Control is exercised over the provision of betting facilities at dog-racing tracks, but His Majesty's Gov- ernment are not prepared to accept any responsibility for exercising control over the conduct of dog-racing itself, and accordingly are unable to accept the suggestion that Government inspectors should be appointed to take charge on dog-racing tracks.

Mr. Brown

Would the Home Secretary be good enough to consider evidence which I shall be happy to submit to him, and which suggests that it is just as necessary that these veterinary surgeons should be appointed by the Government and be responsible to them as it is in the case of the factory inspectors who are appointed by his Department at the present time?

Mr. Morrison

If my hon. Friend will do that, I will, of course, give the matter my fullest consideration, but he might short-circuit the process by sending his information directly to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Unless good cause is shown, one does not want to add at the present time to the number of Government inspectors.

Sir Herbert Williams

Can the Home Secretary assure me that the dogs will be allowed the same freedom as human beings, namely, free choice of vet.?