§ Mr. GROVESasked the Home Secretary whether electric immobilisation or injection of starch grains into the carotid artery are held as complying with the provisions as to anaesthetics under the Act 39 and 40 Vic., c. 77, relating to experiments on animals; whether he is aware that these respective methods are in use for the purpose of producing anaesthesia in experiments on animals; and whether there are any specific regulations laid down in connection with the granting of licences for such experimentation as to what does, or does not, constitute an anaesthetic within the meaning of the Act?
§ Mr. LLOYDI am advised that electric immobilisation and the injection of starch grains into the carotid artery are effective methods of causing complete insensibility in animals, but they are never used in the laboratories as substitutes for the recognised anaesthetics. There are no specific regulations defining anaesthetics and there is no definition in the Act, but there is attached to every Certificate B (the certificate permitting cutting operations with subsequent recovery) a condition requiring that the anaesthetic administered must be of sufficient power to prevent the animal feeling pain.
1992W
§ Mr. GROVESasked the Home Secretary whether he will state the reason for the delay in issuing the Return of Experiments on Living Animals for 1934, which was presented to the House and ordered to be printed on 30th July, 1935, but was not issued and publicly available until the latter part of September?
§ Mr. LLOYDI regret the delay in the issue of the Return for 1934 which was due mainly to the prolonged absence following an accident of the Clerk responsible for the preparation of the tables and the figures in the introductory statement. The addition to the list of registered places of the information as to ownership asked for by the hon. Member on the 29th April, 1935, necessitated an examination of the files relating to registered places, which further delayed the preparation of the Return.
§ Mr. GROVESasked the Home Secretary whether there is any regulation as to the age at which a licence to experiment on animals, under the Act 39 and 40 Vic., c. 77. may first be held; and, if so, what is this limit?
§ Mr. LLOYDNo regulation as to age has been laid down, but a licence would only be granted on the recommendation of the scientific authorities named in Section 11 of the Act and provided the Secretary of State is satisfied as to the fitness of the applicant to hold a licence.