HL Deb 04 March 1999 vol 597 cc1796-8

3.19 p.m.

Viscount Falkland asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether it is time to strengthen the law with regard to the use of wild animals trained for entertainment purposes.

The Minister of State, Home Office (Lord Williams of Mostyn)

My Lords, we presently believe that adequate legislation is in place. Wild animals trained for entertainment purposes are protected by the Protection of Animals Act 1911, the Performing Animals (Regulation) Act 1925 and, in certain circumstances, by the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976.

Viscount Falkland

My Lords, I thank the Minister for his reply. Is he aware of the recent report of the circus working group of the RSPCA, to which many relevant bodies contributed, which shows that there is great cause for concern? Taken together with the quite deplorable case of the Chipperfield chimpanzees, if I may so describe it, is there not now serious concern that we are past the stage when wild animals, many of which come from species under threat, should be brought in and trained for entertainment purposes? That is against a background of falling attendances at circuses which further aggravate the financial pressures and which may well, in turn, affect the animals' welfare?

Lord Williams of Mostyn

My Lords, I have in fact read the report. The Associate Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare intends to consider the report formally within a matter of weeks. The executive summary of the report states: There is unanimous agreement that further research would be a necessary pre-requisite of any legislative changes". So it is not entirely clear-cut.

Lord Renton

My Lords, does the Minister agree that the present legislation does not prevent wild animals being confined in small cages, drugged and sometimes chastised in order to perform an unnatural kind of entertainment, all of which is surely cruel? Should we not now try to do something about that?

Lord Williams of Mostyn

My Lords, any intentional infliction of harm to animals is against the criminal law. Reference has been made to the recent high profile case but, in fact, that was a successful prosecution. The law is there to protect against the infliction of harm and damage to domestic and captive animals.

Viscount Mountgarret

My Lords, to carry the question of the noble Lord, Lord Renton, further, would it not be relatively simple to ban the use of wild animals for entertainment generally across the board?

Lord Williams of Mostyn

My Lords, that would be a possibility. It is certainly something I imagine the associate group will want to consider. The Chief Whip reminds me that, in his view, the duty of training wild animals for entertainment purposes ought really to be with him, not me!

Baroness Trumpington

My Lords, arising from the recent high profile case to which reference has been made, is it true that a loophole in the law allows a person who has been found guilty of mistreating an animal to have the animal returned to him after the case? I believe that that applies not only to wild animals but also to horses.

Lord Williams of Mostyn

My Lords, the law allows a court to deprive a convicted person of ownership of an animal for any period. It can order the disposal of an animal, appropriately, if the court is satisfied that to leave the animal with its owner would expose it to further cruelty. In respect of the particular chimp, Trudy, officials have checked today. She is now living at Monkey World in Dorset. She and her fellow chimps have 40 acres in which to wander. The leader of the group is called Rodney, aged 30. The adoptive mother is Peggy, aged 15. Plainly, the age of consent in that particular context is what the Commons are suggesting.

Baroness Trumpington

She is better off than me!

Lord Williams of Mostyn

It shows that if employment in this House passes, there may be alternatives available.