MOTION FOR PAPERS. (Hansard, 1 March 1888)

§ VISCOUNT SIDMOUTH,
in moving for Correspondence between Her Majesty's Secretary of State for the Home Department and the Anti-Vivisection Society in reference to two recent cases in which the law relating to vivisection appeared to have been contravened, said, there were certain conditions annexed to the granting of certificates under the Vivisection Act to the effect that the experi- 1811 ments should not be performed in public. In consequence of that and other circumstances it was extremely difficult to obtain convictions under the Act. The administration of the Act was placed in the hands of the Home Office. One or two cases had recently occurred which appeared to him and to those for whom he spoke to call for prosecution. In both those cases the Home Office had refused to prosecute on one ground or another, and it was for the Correspondence which took place in reference to those two cases that he now moved. He thought their Lordships would agree that it was right and proper that some example should be made of those who openly contravened the Act of Parliament; but unless the Home Secretary would interfere and order a prosecution, it was very difficult to say how the law was to be enforced.

§ EARL DE LA WARR
said, he was deeply interested in this matter, and hoped the law would be enforced.

§ THE PRIME MINISTER AND SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (The Marquess of SALISBURY)
said, that in the absence of his noble Friend (Earl Brownlow) he would answer the question on his behalf. But he should only answer by asking a question—To what cases did the noble Viscount refer? The names were not given, and it was impossible for the Home Office to say whether the Correspondence asked for could be produced until it was known to what cases the noble Viscount referred.

§ VISCOUNT SIDMOUTH
mentioned the names of the two cases, which were inaudible.

§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY
said, if the noble Lord repeated his question it would be answered.