§ Mr. AmessTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received on the welfare of animals used in circuses. [122415]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThis year, the Home Office has received 50 letters about the welfare of circus animals from individual members of the public and Members of Parliament. There have been six Parliamentary Questions on the subject. In addition, over 1,500 pre-printed letters have been received as part of an Animal Defenders campaign connected with elephants in a particular circus. A large Animal Defenders petition to the House of Commons, seeking a ban on the use of animals in travelling circuses and the licensing of circus winter quarters, has also recently been passed to the Home Office. I met representatives of Animal Defenders and the Captive Animals Society on 31 January.