That this House commends the work of Animal Defenders International in collecting video evidence of the abnormal behaviour and suffering of animals in travelling circuses, and notes this shows that travelling circuses cannot adequately provide for the basic welfare needs of their animals and as such fail the welfare test of the Animal Welfare Bill; notes that circus animals spend excessive periods of time shut in transporters, whether travelling or not, are forced to live in temporary facilities lacking appropriate space and environmental enrichment, and often in inappropriate groupings of animals; further notes that violence is commonplace and part of the circus culture, and no other working animals spend such a long time, normally at least eight months, in temporary mobile accommodation, thus making animal transport regulations difficult to police and enforce, and that the arrangements for circus animals are entirely different from the higher quality accommodation and transport arrangements of animals being transported for racing, horse shows, dog shows and similar events; and therefore urges that the Animal Welfare Bill is used to end the use of animals in travelling circuses and to take measures to protect performing animals in permanent facilities through regulation and to end the currently legal use of violence to train animals for the purposes of entertainment.

That this House commends the work of Animal Defenders International in collecting video evidence of the abnormal behaviour and suffering of animals in travelling circuses, and notes this shows that travelling circuses cannot adequately provide for the basic welfare needs of their animals and as such fail the welfare test...

That this House is concerned about the welfare of wild animals in circuses; notes the large body of evidence collected by the Born Free Foundation, Animal Defenders International, RSPCA and others showing that a circus environment cannot provide for the needs of wild animals, including Anne the elephant; is appalled that Anne the elephant is still being moved around the country with Bobby Roberts Super Circus even though she suffers from arthritis; asserts that it would be in her best interests to be retired from circus life; recognises that the proposed duty of care requirement cannot be met in a circus environment; and calls on the Government to introduce measures to end the use of wild animals in circuses in the forthcoming Animal Welfare Bill.

That this House is concerned about the welfare of wild animals in circuses; notes the large body of evidence collected by the Born Free Foundation, Animal Defenders International, RSPCA and others showing that a circus environment cannot provide for the needs of wild animals, including Anne the elephant; is appalled...

That this House deplores the use of live animals in circus acts, in particular Little Fred, an eight-year old Canadian Black Bear in the Circus King Company, which is currently touring the Midlands, this apparently being the only remaining performing bear in the UK; notes that it is a practice that harks back to the dark ages; deplores the use of any other live animals as circus acts, especially the elephants, lions, horses, tigers and llamas used in the Circus King Company; and urges honourable Members to actively encourage their constituents to boycott all performances by the Circus King Company.

That this House deplores the use of live animals in circus acts, in particular Little Fred, an eight-year old Canadian Black Bear in the Circus King Company, which is currently touring the Midlands, this apparently being the only remaining performing bear in the UK; notes that it is a practice...

That this House urges that any person convicted of cruelty to animals should in future be automatically banned for life from keeping an animal or working with animals; deplores the lenient sentences handed down to the two people convicted in the Chipperfield Circus Case in April 1999, when one was fined for 12 counts of cruelty to a chimpanzee and one was fined for cruelty to an elephant; and calls on the Government to amend the Protection of Animals Act 1911, the Protection of Animals (Amendment) Act 1988 and the dangerous animals and wildlife acts accordingly.

That this House urges that any person convicted of cruelty to animals should in future be automatically banned for life from keeping an animal or working with animals; deplores the lenient sentences handed down to the two people convicted in the Chipperfield Circus Case in April 1999, when one was...

That this House deplores the lenient sentences handed down to the two people convicted in the Chipperfield Circus case in April this year, when one was fined for 12 counts of cruelty to a chimpanzee and one was fined for cruelty to an elephant; believes that any person convicted of any cruelty to any animal under any circumstances should be automatically banned for life from keeping an animal or working with animals; and calls on the Government to amend the Protection of Animals Act 1911, the Protection of Animals (Amendment) Act 1988 and the Dangerous Animals and Wildlife Acts accordingly.

That this House deplores the lenient sentences handed down to the two people convicted in the Chipperfield Circus case in April this year, when one was fined for 12 counts of cruelty to a chimpanzee and one was fined for cruelty to an elephant; believes that any person convicted of...

That this House congratulates the Animal Defenders for the excellent and thorough report, The Ugliest Show on Earth, detailing appalling abuse and day-to-day deprivation suffered by circus animals; is pleased to note the recent conviction of one of the defendants in the cruelty case resulting from evidence gathered by the Animal Defenders; is concerned at the practice of shackling elephants for excessive periods of time and that the law is ambiguous in this area; notes that circuses exist in a legal loophole, inadequately regulated, licensed and inspected; and calls for a ban on the use of animals in travelling circuses and the extension of the Zoo Licensing Act 1981 to cover the permanent holding facilities thus regulating staffing, housing, food and other welfare issues, public safety, hygiene, breeding, transport, sale and other disposal of animals.

That this House congratulates the Animal Defenders for the excellent and thorough report, The Ugliest Show on Earth, detailing appalling abuse and day-to-day deprivation suffered by circus animals; is pleased to note the recent conviction of one of the defendants in the cruelty case resulting from evidence gathered by the...

That this House believes that the traditional circus gives rise to enormous concern for the welfare of animals; notes that they are kep for long periods in close confinement in abnormal social groups and with regular transportation; deplores the constant routine of training and performing with such abnormal conditions having been shown to cause suffering and distress among animals which are essentially wild; further notes that, unlike zoos, which are regulated by the Zoos and Licensing Act 1981, there are not legislative standards for the welfare of circus animals; congratulates those local authorities which have sought to prevent circuses with wild animals from performing on publicly-owned land within their areas; and urges the Government to give urgent consideration to enabling local authorities to extend such a ban to all circuses performing within their local authority areas whether on private or public land.

That this House believes that the traditional circus gives rise to enormous concern for the welfare of animals; notes that they are kep for long periods in close confinement in abnormal social groups and with regular transportation; deplores the constant routine of training and performing with such abnormal conditions having...