HC Deb 25 March 1998 vol 309 cc154-5W
Mr. Gordon Prentice

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many circus accidents involving(a) lions, (b) tigers and (c) other wild animals have been reported in each year since 1990. [35748]

Angela Eagle

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) records all accidents at work or in connection with work that result in a fatality, major injury or over-3-day injury. HSE's information systems can identify accidents involving animals as a whole since the operating year 1991–92, the first year where accidents occurring in circuses can be identified. These records show one over-3-day injury to an employee by a circus animal. The species of animal is not identified.

The provisions of the Data Protection Act preclude any further detail being provided as it would allow the injured person to be identified.