Government attacked over refusal to ban circus animals

Published on Monday 6 July 2009 10:09

THE Scottish Government was under fire from animal welfare campaigners today after it ruled out a ban on the use of wild animals in circuses.

The Animal Health and Welfare Act passed by the previous Labour-Liberal Democrat Scottish Executive in 2006 was seen as paving the way for a ban.

But now Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead has said he cannot use the law to outlaw circus animals after an independent report said there was no scientific evidence to show circuses caused any animal welfare problems.

In answer to a parliamentary question, he told Labour backbencher Elaine Murray that regulations made under the act must be for the purpose of securing the welfare of animals.

But today Libby Anderson, of Edinburgh-based campaign group Advocates for Animals, said the government was using too narrow a definition of animal welfare and urged it to take moral and ethical issues into account.

She said: "A prohibition on all wild animals in circuses is achievable and proportionate under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2006 which gives ministers powers to make regulations for securing the welfare of animals.

"Animal welfare is a far broader concept than simply the discipline of animal welfare science. If the Scottish Government were to exclude moral and ethical considerations it would be fettering its delegated power unnecessarily."

She said animals in circuses were forced to endure captivity and perform unnatural tricks.

"They spend long hours on lorries, both during transport and while the circus is being set up and taken down," she said. "Elephants are shackled so they cannot move more than a step or two in any direction, for long periods."

In March 2006, the then Environment Minister, Rhona Brankin, said she planned to use the act to tackle concerns about circus animals.

But the following year an academic panel chaired by Mike Radford of Aberdeen University reported, saying welfare concerns about circuses were not supported by scientific evidence.

Animal campaigners claim the Radford report was hampered by the terms of reference given to it by the UK Government, which did not include the training or performance of the animals.

Edinburgh City Council used to have a complete ban on shows with wild animals, but was forced to drop it after a court case.

It can refuse to allow circuses with animals on its land, and shows must obtain a licence. A spokeswoman said: "There are conditions in the licence that say if animals are involved there must be adequate provisions for them and this can be checked by our environmental health officers."