Circuses to face wild animal ban
Martin Hickman
Following stints with Reuters and the Press Association, Martin Hickman joined The Independent as a news editor in 2001. He became the Consumer Affairs Correspondent in September 2005 and has run the paper's trenchant campaigns on packaging, bank charges and factory-farmed chicken. He writes on subjects as diverse as food, finance, energy and fashion. With Tom Watson, he is author of a new book on the phone hacking scandal, Dial M for Murdoch - News Corporation and the Corruption of Britain.
Friday 13 July 2012
Related articles
Ministers are preparing a law banning wild animals from circuses, following a campaign by The Independent.
Civil servants have begun drafting the new law, the Government said yesterday, 13 months after MPs called for a ban to be introduced within a year. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs announced the news while laying parliamentary regulations for a "temporary" licensing system for lions, tigers and other performing animals.
Animal welfare charities gave a cautious welcome, but expressed concern that ministers had failed to set a timetable for a ban. They say travelling circuses give wild animals much less space than in zoos and are also concerned about training and performances.
After more than 30,000 signed a petition in The Independent, on 23 June last year MPs unanimously backed a motion which read: "That this House directs the Government to use its powers under section 12 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 to introduce a regulation banning the use of all wild animals in circuses to take effect by 1 July 2012."
Shortly before the vote, the Animal Welfare minister Jim Paice said: "If at the end of this debate the House were to approve this motion then of course we will have to respect that." However, following the debate Defra refused to implement the measure, citing unexplained legal problems.
From the blogs
Review of Glee ‘Sweet Dreams’
The episode begins with Finn (Cory Monteith) at college, partying and accidentally participating in ...
Barking Blondes: When to vaccinate
Dr Ron Schultz, professor and chair of pathological sciences at The University of Wisconsin, joined ...
Doctor Who ‘The Name of the Doctor’ – Series 7, episode 13
What a wonderful way to end this momentous series in the 50th year of Doctor Who. From the start of ...
UKIP Surges to Record High
The UK Independence Party is on 19 per cent, the highest share recorded by any pollster, in a ComRes...
- 1 Asteroid nine times the size of the QE2 liner to sail pass Earth
- 2 Notes from a small island: Is Sealand an independent 'micronation' or an illegal fortress?
- 3 British business: We need to stay in the EU - or risk losing up to £92bn a year
- 4 You thought Ryanair's attendants had it bad? Wait 'til you hear about their pilots
- 5 It’s official: thanks to Stephen Hawking's Israel boycott, anti-Semitism is no more
Get your summer started with British Military Fitness
BMF is the UK’s biggest and best loved outdoor fitness classes
Visit York
Find out what The Independent's resident travel expert has to say about one of the most beautiful small cities in the world
Enter the latest Independent competitions
Win anything from gadgets to five-star holidays on our competitions and offers page.
Business videos from commercial thought leaders
Watch the best in the business world give their insights into the world of business.
iJobs General
Senior Employment Solicitor - Birmingham
Excellent Package: Austen Lloyd: This is a senior appointment with huge potent...
Teaching Programme Officer with Qualified Teacher Status
£28000 - £31500 per annum + benefits: Randstad Education Newcastle: Permanent ...
SAP FI-CA Consultant - up to £58k
£50000 - £58000 per annum + Benefits and Bonus: Progressive Recruitment: SAP F...
PHP/ Drupal Developer - £35k - WC
£30000 - £40000 per annum + BENS: Progressive Recruitment: Drupal Developer A ...
The price of pacifism
Jason Isaacs: Groupies, theatre bores and James Bond
Sealand: 'Micronation' or illegal fortress?
Legend of James Hunt has set Hollywood hearts racing
Macklemore: 'I don't have moderation'


Comments