§ Mr. Granvilleasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that at the present time cats are being imported from Ireland for medical research; that sometimes they are packed so tightly that they arrive at their destination dead or dying, as happened recently at Cambridge; that these animals are made to undergo painful experiments, sometimes enduring weeks of agony, in the interests of science; and what steps does he intend to take to stop this unnecessary suffering.
§ Mr. EdeI am not aware that cats are now imported from Ireland for medical research. In 1947 some cats were sent from Ireland to Cambridge. The person in Eire responsible for the despatch of the cats was prosecuted and convicted. The seven cats received were used for class demonstrations for which purpose the experiments were made under anaesthesia throughout, the cats being killed before they recovered consciousness.