Animal Welfare Bill

I am grateful to the Minister for clarifying the position of foreign circuses visiting the United Kingdom. As for Amendment No. 13, I am blowed, because it really should have contained the word ““circus””. I am quite staggered that somehow we did not include it. Taking it at face value would suggest that I did not believe that any wild animals should take part in any performances at all. That is certainly not what was behind the thrust of the amendment, so I am grateful to the Minister for giving us the opportunity to come back on that. There have been some wonderful animal films which have opened the window for many people. They can see on television, DVD or whatever, some of the great joys that those animals bring. My intention in the amendment was not to touch on what I call the entertainment and film-making side of the business, which I hope is already heavily regulated. Perhaps the Minister can clarify that. Amendment No. 13 should have been worded: ““Wild animals in performance in circuses””. As it was grouped with the amendment of the noble Baroness, Lady Miller, I assumed that it was, but clearly there is an error on our part. That is what the amendment refers to, not to performing animals outside circuses.