Mark Pritchard has today met with Lord de Mauley, a Minister at the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, to discuss the forthcoming ban on wild animals in circuses.
The ban, which is scheduled to come into effect from May 2015 would ban the use of all wild animals used in all travelling circuses. There has however been some dispute within Parliament over how far the ban should extend, with the DEFRA Select Committee recommending a ban far narrower in scope. The Government however is due to announce its own response to the Committee’s report tomorrow (Tuesday 22nd October).
The MP, whose motion in Parliament led to the government bringing forward a ban, said:
“I am pleased to have been able to meet the Minister today to discuss this important issue. The ban is long and I am pleased that progress is finally being made to end the suffering of wild animals in travelling circuses”
He went on:
“I hope that the legislative timetable will provide time to move forward with the ban before the deadline of May 2015. There is strong public backing for a full ban on the use of all wild animals in circuses. I am glad the government appears to be finally listening”