§ Mr. GROVESasked the Home Secretary on what grounds a certificate for vivisection is issued, in view of the ambiguity of he wording of the licences and the wide powers conferred by various classes of certificates; and what steps 355W if any, are being taken to ensure that licences are not issued to persons merely interested for commercial ends?
§ Sir J. GILMOURCertificates given under the provisos to Section 3 of the Cruelty to Animals Act, 1876, dispensing with some of the conditions laid down in the earlier part of the Section are given by the scientific authorities named in Section 11 of the Act, and not by the Home Office. A copy of any certificate given must be forwarded to the Secretary of State and does not come into operation until one week after a copy has been so forwarded. The power of the Secretary of State is confined to disallowing or suspending any certificate given under the Act.
§ Mr. GROVESasked the Home Secretary which establishments or individuals hold licences for vivisection and do not fall into the category of either public or private companies.
§ Sir J. GILMOURLicences to perform experiments on living animal sunder the Cruelty to Animals Act, 1876, are in all cases granted to individuals, and not to establishments or public or private companies.
§ Mr. GROVESasked the Home Secretary what percentage of licences issued during the last 10 years have been issued to persons who have never been connected with medical practice, and to persons under 30 years of age?