§ Lord Fisherasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will list the zoos licensed under the Zoo Licensing Act 1981 at 31st October 1986; whether they will list those zoos with conditions attached to their licence at that date; whether they are satisfied with the revised Standards of Modern Zoo Practice suggested by the departmental working party; if so, when it is proposed these standards come into force; and whether they consulted the National Federation of Zoological Gardens on these changes.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment (Lord Skelmersdale)There are currently 260 zoos covered by the relevant legislation. I will therefore write to the noble Lord with the information he seeks on zoo licences, and place a copy of this letter in the Library.
My department is currently considering the revised standards of modern zoo practice suggested by the working party, in the light of comments received from interested bodies, including the National Federation of Zoological Gardens. We expect to issue these revised standards next spring.