§ 5. Mr. Peter Freemanasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether a licence is required where experiments on living animals are claimed to be used for veterinary purposes; whether he is aware of the unsatisfactory condition of many horses and other animals used for the preparation of sera for such conditions; whether such institutions are visited by his officers or the police; and whether he has any record of the number of such institutions.
§ Mr. EdeI am advised that a licence under the Act of 1876 is required for experiments made to discover or test sera to be used for veterinary purposes, but not for procedures undertaken merely for the production of such sera. Places used solely for this purpose are neither visited by my inspectors nor registered by my Department. The police do not visit them as a matter of routine.
§ Mr. FreemanIs my right hon. Friend aware that, because these institutions require no licences and are not inspected officially, appalling and often revolting conditions result, and will he take some further steps to see what can be done to protect these animals against the conditions obtaining now?
§ Mr. EdeIf the conditions are as my hon. Friend describes them—and I have no evidence on the point—it is open to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, or other people who may be aware of the facts, to take the necessary proceedings.
§ Mr. FreemanIf I provide my right hon. Friend with particulars of specific cases will he have inquiries made in respect of these premises?
§ Mr. EdeNo, Sir. I have no power myself to inspect the premises. The law of the country decides the way in which, they shall be dealt with.