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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many times each circus licensed under the Welfare of Wild Animals in Travelling Circuses (England) Regulations 2012 was inspected in (a) 2012, (b) 2013 and (c) 2014; and how many animals of each species each circus is currently licensed to hold.

The Welfare of Wild Animals in Travelling Circuses (England) Regulations 2012 came into force in January 2013. Only two circuses have been licensed under the Regulations: Circus Mondao and Jolly's Circus. During 2013 there were three inspections by a Defra appointed inspector of Circus Mondao and four inspections by a Defra appointed inspector of Jolly's Circus. So far during 2014 there has been one such inspection of Circus Mondao and two such inspections of Jolly's Circus. Further such inspections are planned during 2014. Currently, Circus Mondao is licensed to use: 2 camels, 2 reindeer and a zebra. Jolly's Circus is licensed to use: an ankoli, a camel, a fox, 2 lions, a racoon, 4 reindeer, 3 snakes, 3 tigers and 2 zebra.