§ Sir R. GOWERasked the Home Secretary whether, with a view to discouraging public performances by animals in this country, he will consider the desirability of refusing to grant permits to alien exhibitors of performing animals who desire to enter this country for the purpose of practising their professions?
§ Sir H. SAMUELI do not think that I should be justified in taking the action suggested. Parliament has dealt with the matter in the Performing Animals (Regulation) Act which inter alia requires exhibitors to be registered and empowers justices to prohibit summarily any performance in which there is reason to suppose that the training or exhibition of an animal has been accompanied by cruelty. No discrimination was made in the Act between British subjects and foreigners, and it would not be right for me to introduce one without the authority of Parliament.