MPs in call for circus animal ban

23 June 2011 Last updated at 02:55 GMT Protests have been held in the UK against the use of wild animals in circuses A ban on wild animal species performing in circuses in England will be proposed by a group of MPs in the Commons later.

A backbench debate has been called by Conservative Mark Pritchard. It has backing from several Lib Dem and Labour MPs, as well as celebrity supporters.

Ministers say they would rather strengthen the existing Animal Welfare Act than introduce a complete ban.

The government's stance on the issue is backed by the Association of Circus Proprietors of Great Britain.

Outdated and cruel

Only a handful of circuses in England keep wild animals, which includes any non-domestic species such as tigers, zebras and camels.

But Mr Pritchard, MP for The Wrekin, thinks the practice is outdated and cruel.

He will use the debate to call on ministers to introduce a total ban on the use of such creatures from next year.

The government's preferred option is to introduce a licensing scheme and a tougher inspection regime under the Animal Welfare Act.

Such an approach is currently the subject of consultation and has been welcomed by the circus industry which says cases of mistreatment are very rare.

A group of celebrities, including comedian Ricky Gervais and actor Brian Blessed, has written an open letter to Prime Minister David Cameron calling on the government to bring in a ban.

The letter has also been signed by actors Annette Crosbie, Julia McKenzie and John Nettles, musician Brian May, designer Meg Mathews, broadcaster Mark Radcliffe, comedian Alexei Sayle, and poet Benjamin Zephaniah.

'Knocked down'

They said campaign group Animal Defenders International had been advised that legal obstacles to a ban, cited by the government, were not relevant.

Their letter said: "The coalition government's decision is completely at odds with public and parliamentary will.

"Every legal obstacle that the government has recently put forward has now been knocked down."

Singer Leona Lewis has written directly to her MP, Labour's Diane Abbott, to express her "shock and outrage" over the issue.

Shadow Commons leader Hilary Benn has accused ministers of making "pathetic excuses" to avoid a ban.

Shadow environment secretary Mary Creagh said: "There is overwhelming public support for a ban on wild animals in circuses.

"Wild animals should not be transported around the country in cages for 'entertainment'."

Robust regulation

Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman announced in May that there would be no outlawing of the use of wild animals in circuses. She promised to enforce "high welfare standards".

Agriculture minister Jim Paice also ruled out a ban but said the cost of a new licensing and inspection regime could lead to fewer performing animals.

However, the Association of Circus Proprietors of Great Britain said more robust regulation could see some circuses return to using animals as it would be easier to show they were "fully compliant" with higher welfare standards.

A ban on circus animals introduced in Austria is being challenged under European law.

The UK government has previously argued that it would be unworkable to introduce a ban until the outcome of that case was known.

Public outcry

Should MPs vote for a ban it will not pass into law but would increase pressure on the government to act.

The governing SNP in Scotland has said it could include a ban in its legislative programme, to be outlined in the autumn.

In 2009, there were an estimated 39 wild animals being used in UK circuses, including elephants, tigers, lions, camels, zebras and crocodiles.

There was an outcry earlier this year when footage emerged of a 59-year-old circus elephant called Anne being beaten with a pitchfork in Northamptonshire.

She has since been taken to Longleat Safari Park in Wiltshire.

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Circus ban claim has MPs howling

19 May 2011 Last updated at 13:04 GMT In Full: MPs debate the issue of animal welfare: From Democracy Live

MPs have jeered a minister who suggested banning wild animals in circuses could breach human rights law.

To howls of laughter, Jim Paice said legal advice suggested a total ban "might well be seen as disproportionate action" under the Human Rights Act.

He said to have pursued a total ban would have been irresponsible.

But Labour's Mary Creagh said the department was being "pathetic" and accused ministers of "hiding behind human rights legislation".

Last week, Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman announced there would be no ban on the use of wild animals in circuses but promised to enforce "high welfare standards".

She suggested a ban would be unworkable because of a court case in Austria.

Junior minister Mr Paice told MPs on Thursday he wanted to "clarify the confusion". He said the case against the Austrian government had been delayed - although proceedings were expected to start soon.

But he said his clarification did not change the government's legal position on any ban.

'All-singing disaster'

To laughter from MPs, Mr Paice said: "The very strong legal advice which we have received, and which is consistent with the case being prepared against Austria, is that a total ban on wild animals in circuses might well be seen as disproportionate action under the European Union Services Directive and under our own Human Rights Act.

"To have pursued a ban in light of that legal advice we believe would have been irresponsible."

But shadow environment secretary Mary Creagh said the secretary of state had told MPs that the Austrian government "have been taken to court by a German circus company". However, the statement confirmed "no legal challenge exists".

She said of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs that it was another "all-singing disaster from the worst-performing department in government".

Ms Creagh challenged the government to place the legal advice it had received in the Commons library so it could be scrutinised by MPs.

"On the legal cases that don't exist and hiding behind human rights legislation, it is this department which is pathetic," she said.

She urged Mr Paice to "stop hiding behind some circus owners, who may at some point in the future, after six years of failed national and European legal challenges, be bringing another case".

"That is no reason not to ban wild animals in British circuses."

Newspapers 'incorrect'

But Mr Paice said the written statement issued on Friday had been "perfectly accurate at that time" adding: "It now transpires newspaper reports were incorrect."

In a move which stops short of a ban, government-approved vets will oversee a new licensing scheme designed to prevent cruelty and mistreatment.

Green MP Caroline Lucas called it a "cowardly" position, citing previous examples of animal welfare issues where the government had gone ahead, despite legal advice.

"Could you have a bit of spine?" she told Mr Paice.

In 2009, the year for which the latest figures are available, there were an estimated 39 wild animals being used in circuses in the UK, including elephants, tigers, lions, camels, zebras and crocodiles.

There was a public outcry earlier this year when footage emerged of a 59-year-old circus elephant called Anne being beaten with a pitchfork in Northamptonshire.

She has since been taken to Longleat Safari Park in Wiltshire.

View the original article here