asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total number of certificates issued under the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876 during the year 1976.

Certificates are given by the holders of the appointments set out in Section 11 of the Act. A standard licence condition, however, provides that a certificate shall not have effect until I have notified the licensee that I do not propose to exercise my power to disallow it. The figures of the total number of certificates submitted to me during 1976 for approval could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.