§ 61. Mrs. Castleasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Home Office inspectors are employed on the supervision of experiments on animals; what are their qualifications for this work; and how many prosecutions have taken place since the inspectorate was established under the Cruelty to Animals Act, 1876.
§ Mr. Vosper:There are five inspectors under the Cruelty to Animals Act, 1876, all of whom are medically qualified. There has been no prosecution under the Act.
§ 62. Mrs. Castleasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will receive a deputation from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to discuss the present law and practice with regard to experiments on animals and how the safeguards against abuse might be improved.
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§ Mr. Vosper:The Society asked my right hon. Friend to receive a deputation in 1959 and last year; but having considered the representations and suggestions which it was good enough to make to him in some detail, he did not think a a discussion was necessary.