§ 72. Mr. Sorensenasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions on the ground of cruelty to performing animals have taken place in the last three years; what are the existing provisions for investigating complaints of cruelty to performing animals or during their training; and whether he is satisfied that existing laws relative to this matter are adequate.
§ Mr. Ede:The criminal statistics do not distinguish prosecutions for cruelty to performing animals from prosecutions for cruelty to other animals. As regards the second part of the Question, Section 3 of the Performing Animals (Regulation) Act, 1925, confers powers of entry and inspection of premises where animals are trained and exhibited or kept for training or exhibition. I have no reason to think that the existing statutory provisions are inadequate.