Wild Animals in Circuses (No. 2) Bill (Second sitting)

Sarah Newton Excerpts

Committee Debate: 2nd sitting: House of Commons
Tuesday 21st May 2019 Public Bill Committees

[The Chair]

We have under 20 minutes left. Four colleagues have indicated that they want to speak before the Minister does. If anyone else wants to say something, could they catch my eye?

[Sarah Newton (Truro and Falmouth) (Con)]

Q May I just say, Mr Jolly and Ms MacManus, that you are coming across as people who care very much for your animals?

Carol MacManus: We do.

Peter Jolly: We’re a family.

[Sarah Newton]

I can hear that.

Peter Jolly: My grandchildren are in the circus now. It is a family business that uses animals. We are similar to farms.

Carol MacManus: I do not know how many of you have a pet, but if you had a pet dog and somebody told you, “We’re going to ban pet ownership”, how would you feel?

[Sarah Newton]

Q I can understand that this is very difficult and emotional for you. We can appreciate that. It is a whole way of life for you. What has struck me from what you have said is that in addition to the wild animals—you call them exotic animals—you have other animals. You might be thinking, “If this does come through, we’ll look to diversify. We may have other animals,” because clearly you love animals and you think children should have these opportunities. Could you talk to us about how you might diversify—maybe you could have some snakes?

Carol MacManus: They are wild animals, so we cannot have them either.

[Sarah Newton]

Q Are there any other sorts of animals that you—

Peter Jolly: It is only ponies—I have ponies—and donkeys, goats, that sort of thing. They are the only things. Llamas are not classified as wild.

[Sarah Newton]

Q So you would carry on doing what you were doing but you would have other animals that were not considered to be exotic or wild animals?

Peter Jolly: Or we could go off and do country shows and things like that with the animals that we have.

[Sarah Newton]

Q Talk me through that. You feel that you would be able to keep the animals you have, which are wild animals—although you call them exotic animals—but do something else with them.

Peter Jolly: We could do film work and county shows. We could still have a circus, but outside.

[Sarah Newton]

Q Do you feel the definitions in the Bill would enable you to do that?

Peter Jolly: I think the word “circus” needs to be clarified. Saying that it has to be in a big top is not correct. A circus can be anywhere.