David Heath MP

Minister of State for Agriculture and Food

DEFRA

Nobel House

17 Smith Square

London  SW1P 3JR

Date: 24^th June 2013 

Dear David,

I am writing to you to formally express my support for the Government’s stated aim of ending the use of wild animals in travelling circuses in this country. As you are aware, the legislation has strong support among MPs, as well as being highly popular with the general public and animal welfare organisations.

However, I am anxious that the Wild Animals in Circuses Bill as currently drafted contains loopholes which may defeat its aim of ending the use of wild animals in circuses in the UK. It is crucial that these are addressed and the legislation strengthened sufficiently to provide the levels of protection intended.

At present the Bill will come into force on 1 December 2015. Given the small size of the industry and the lack of support for the use of wild animals, this phase-out time seems unnecessarily long. Only two remaining circuses use wild animals, Circus Mondao and Peter Jolly’s Circus, and it would be entirely practical for them to be required to stop doing so by December 2014.

I would also like to see some clarification of the term “exhibition”, as the current legislation could allow circuses to transport animals around the country but not “exhibit” them. The animals would then continue to be kept in temporary accommodation and subjected to the stresses of constant travel, negating the Bill’s aim of protecting the welfare of wild animals.

The Schedule of the Bill provides inspectors with the power to “seize anything, except an animal, that is found on the premises and which the inspector reasonably believes to be evidence of the commission of an offence”. Given that the presence of an animal in a circus will itself be an offence, and that the Bill aims to stop the keeping of animals by circuses, please can you explain why inspectors will not be empowered to seize the animal itself and remove it from the circus?

The draft further specifies that the Bill prohibits the use of wild animals in travelling circuses “in England”. However, 76% of the Welsh public also support a ban on the use of wild animals in circuses.[1] There are currently no circuses using wild animals which are based in Wales, but visiting circuses from England, Ireland and Europe are permitted to perform in Wales. A UK-wide ban would remedy concerns that circuses could simply move across a border when the English ban comes into force.

I understand that the Welsh administration is interested in being included in the legislation, that the Scottish administration intends to consult on a ban, and that the Northern Ireland Assembly is also considering the issue.[2] Will the Government commit to working with the devolved administrations to bring about a comprehensive UK ban?

I am pleased that the Government has committed to preventing the continued suffering of wild animals kept in inappropriate conditions and trust you will do your utmost to ensure that the Bill is as comprehensive and effective as possible.

Yours sincerely,