Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the Government's policy is on a ban on the use of wild animals in circuses.

The Government’s policy is to introduce a ban on the use of wild animals in travelling circuses as soon as Parliamentary time allows. In the interim, the welfare of any wild animals still being used by travelling circuses in England is protected by the Welfare of Wild Animals in Travelling Circuses (England) Regulations 2012.