Zoo Animals Fund

(asked on 2nd February 2021) - View Source

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will change the criteria of eligibility for the Zoo Animal Fund to support those facing permanent closure within the next 12 months.


Answered by
Victoria Prentis Portrait
Victoria Prentis
Attorney General
This question was answered on 9th February 2021

Grant payments to zoos begin when they reach their final 12 weeks of financial reserves. Zoos can though apply at any time before reaching this 12 week point to help with their business planning. The Zoo Animals Fund is an envelope of funding to provide for zoos which, due to a coronavirus-related drop in income are experiencing severe financial difficulties and need support in caring for their animals. The aim of the fund is to ensure animal welfare is maintained as a priority, not to ensure that every individual business necessarily remains open. If zoos are downsizing or rehoming their collections the fund can also provide support for this to ensure the animals' welfare. This includes providing support for zoos which are facing permanent closure within the next 12 months in relation to the costs of rehoming their animals. Additionally, we have expanded the range of costs that are eligible so zoos can now claim costs relating to pre-planned essential maintenance and repair works as well as animal care costs. The fund is accessible to all zoos in need of this financial support, as evidenced by the success of small, medium and large zoos in securing grant funding. At this point in time the eligibility criteria are not in the process of being expanded further though we continue to monitor the effectiveness of the fund to ensure it is meeting its aims - and indeed we have already made changes to make it easier for zoos to apply.

Beyond the Zoo Animals Fund, the Government has provided a package of temporary, timely and targeted measures to support businesses, including zoos, through this period of disruption caused by COVID-19. Zoos are eligible to apply for a range of support schemes including the Job Retention Scheme, VAT deferral, Business Rates Relief, the Business Interruption Loan, the option to reclaim the costs of Statutory Sick Pay and grant funding.

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