§ Mr. GROVESasked the Home Secretary whether he will state the total number of vivisectional experiments conducted in the United Kingdom for the year 1934, with separate details of dogs, cats, horses, cows, mice, guinea-pigs, rabbits, etc., and the number operated upon without anaesthetics?
893W
§ Mr. LLOYDThe Home Office does not keep records of the number of experiments performed on each class of animal, and I regret that the information asked for by the hon. Member is not available.
§ Mr. GROVESasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that, for the year 1934, 665,362 animals were vivisected without any anaesthetic; whether he is aware that many eminent orthodox physicians oppose such practices; and whether he will ensure in future that no such practice is continued without licence and compulsory anaesthetic?
§ Mr. LLOYDThe Cruelty to Animals Act of 1876, Section 3, proviso (2), permits of experiments being performed on living animals without anaesthetics by the holder of a licence under the Act where a special certificate is given that insensibility cannot be produced without necessarily frustrating the object of such experiments. Such a certificate is given by the scientific authorities named in Section 11 of the Act. My right hon. Friend cannot undertake to issue any instructions which would not be in conformity with the provisions of the Act.