THE EARL OF MANSFIELDMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are aware of the great increase of zoological parks and gardens which is taking place all over 1050 Great Britain; and whether they are further aware that this increase is causing grave concern to the experienced officials of long existing zoological gardens and bodies concerned with animal welfare, in view of the fact that there are not nearly enough trained personnel in the country to ensure that the exotic animals, in particular, receive proper treatment and that there exists at present no form of official supervision of the conditions in which the animals live in such places; and whether they will therefore appoint a Committee forthwith to investigate the whole position and to report as to what legislation is necessary to ensure proper standards of general and veterinary care, and whether some form of licensing of zoos is required.]
§ BARONESS LLEWELYN-DAVIES OF HASTOEMy Lords, the Federation of Zoological Gardens of Great Britain and Ireland was set up in 1967 under the chairmanship of the noble Earl, Lord Cranbrook, with the object of encouraging the proper care of wild animals in captivity. The Federation has established a Zoo Standards Committee to consider what advice might be offered if Government control of zoos were proposed. This professional body is well equipped to deal with the issues involved. Her Majesty's Government therefore doubt whether Government intervention in the matter is necessary at the present time.
THE EARL OF MANSFIELDMy Lords, arising out of that quite unsatisfactory reply, may I ask whether Her Majesty's Government realise that this most worthy Federation of Zoological Gardens is a purely voluntary body and that no zoo or zoological park is compelled to join; and therefore there is no supervision of any zoo which does not ask to be supervised?
§ BARONESS LLEWELYN-DAVIES OF HASTOEMy Lords, I am sorry that the noble Earl considers my Answer so unsatisfactory. Of course it is a voluntary body, but there are adequate safeguards provided by the Protection of Animals Act 1911, and so on, under which the welfare of these animals is looked after. The Government are well aware of the changing situation is zoological gardens, and the matter is always under review, if necessary.
§ LORD BOOTHBYMy Lords, does the noble Baroness not think that the licensing and proper supervision of the increasing number of zoological gardens in this country has now become an absolute, vital necessity?
§ BARONESS LLEWELYN-DAVIES OF HASTOEMy Lords, no, I should not consider it an urgent necessity. But I have said—and it is so—that we keep the matter under constant review.
§ VISCOUNT MASSEREENE AND FERRARDMy Lords, may I ask the noble Baroness whether she is aware that many private individuals—leaving zoos out of it—keep wild animals in small back sheds and such like quarters? Some people keep pumas or cheetahs in very cramped quarters. Is the noble Baroness aware that there is far more danger from private individuals keeping a wild animal as a pet, involving, from that point of view, more cruelty, than zoos, which are open to the public, would be able to indulge in?
§ BARONESS LLEWELYN-DAVIES OF HASTOEMy Lords, there are perfectly adequate ways in which the public can complain if animals are being kept in ways which are bad for them or indeed dangerous to the public. We have very few complaints about that.
THE EARL OF MANSFIELDMy Lords, one last question. Do not Her Majesty's Government realise that no zoo or zoological park is compelled by law to retain the services of a qualified veterinary surgeon; and that even if one obtains the services of a local man he is probably absolutely ignorant of everything pertaining to foreign animals? Do not Her Majesty's Government realise that if they persist in this attitude of cynical indifference many hundreds, and probably thousands, of interesting wild animals will eke out a miserable existence and come to a premature death?
§ BARONESS LLEWELYN-DAVIES OF HASTOEMy Lords, it is perfectly open to the noble Earl or to anybody else to bring proceedings under the existing Act if he feels there is not adequate veterinary knowledge available for any particular animal. This is so and it is acted upon, day in, day out.
VISCOUNT ST. DAVIDSMy Lords, is my noble friend aware that noble 1052 Lords opposite, who are now advocating an increase of Government interference in a wide field, will in a week or two be complaining about the increase in the number of civil servants?
§ BARONESS LLEWELYN-DAVIES OF HASTOEMy Lords, I think my noble friend has shot the noble Earl's fox.