Wednesday 11:03
Plans are being made to ban certain wild animals from performing in travelling circuses, Animal Welfare Minister Ben Bradshaw announced today.
Mr Bradshaw said today in a statement to the House of Commons:
"I have previously made it clear that I sympathise with the view that performances by some wild animals in travelling circuses are not compatible with meeting their welfare needs. The Animal Welfare Bill will itself represent a significant step forward: Clause 8 imposes a requirement that someone responsible for an animal, such as a circus proprietor, should meet its reasonable welfare needs."
He said that having listened carefully to the arguments made at Second Reading and during Standing Committee, he was not convinced that by itself this element of the Animal Welfare Bill will provide sufficient clarity to circus proprietors and enforcers on what is permitted and what is not.
Mr Bradshaw said:
"To provide this clarity I intend to use a regulation under clause 10 of the Animal Welfare Bill to ban the use in travelling circuses of certain non-domesticated species whose welfare needs cannot be satisfactorily met in that environment.
"In drawing up proposals for secondary legislation, we intend to ensure a clear read across between zoo licensing standards and those standards that we will require from permanent circus premises. Individuals or organisations who train performing animals will be subject to inspection. This will be in addition to existing proposals that we introduce a Code of Practice for circuses and performing animals to deal with other issues such as training activities, trainer competences and accommodation needs for animals when travelling."
Mr Bradshaw added that the ban will apply to travelling circuses only - zoo performances, performances in the audio visual industry and performances in static circuses will not be affected. Discussions will start shortly with industry, welfare organisations and other Government departments on the content of draft regulations, which will then go to public consultation.
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