7. What action is the Welsh Government taking in relation to mobile animal exhibits, including wild animals in travelling circuses? OAQ(5)0052(ERA)

Thank you. The scientific literature review submitted earlier this year identified welfare considerations on the use of wild animals in travelling circuses and in corporate events, entertainment and educational settings. I’ve written to UK Ministers and I’m considering all options, and will make a statement before the Christmas recess.

Thank you, Minister, and I’m aware that Wales is leading the way in this area and that your predecessor commissioned a report by Professor Stephen Harris to try and tackle some of these issues. Can you update us on what kind of considerations you are looking at with a view to improving the health and safety of such animals?

I thank the Member for that question. Professor Harris identified in his report that a large number of captive wild animals are being used in, as I say, corporate entertainment and in educational settings. To be honest, that area concerns me more, because I think that we don’t know the numbers that are being used or anything about their welfare. You will have seen the approach taken in England. There’s been a recent announcement in Scotland that they’re going to introduce legislation in 2018. We don’t have the powers in this area, so I have written to Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Ministers to start those discussions to see what work we can take forward. And, as I say, I will bring forward a statement before Christmas.

Cabinet Secretary, I was wondering if the Welsh Government would consider taking a more legislation-based approach to animal welfare in this Assembly. I remember in the last Assembly, sitting on the Petitions Committee, that we received a petition calling for an animal abuse register, which would obviously incorporate those in circuses, should it be required. The Minister at the time wrote to the committee to say that the Welsh Government wasn’t considering it then, but I’m wondering if you would at least commit to investigating the idea, given the benefits it could deliver not only for animal welfare but in actually profiling perpetrators in other circumstances. We know, if you do abuse an animal, you potentially may go on to abuse human beings in the future. I think it’s something that we should consider as very important.

I haven’t considered introducing legislation. We are looking at the different codes of practice we have for different animals, and certainly it’s something that I’ve asked the chief veterinary officer and officials to monitor. But I’m very happy to look at the point you raised; I think that’s a very interesting point about, as you say, perpetrators with animals. I certainly will be very happy to look at that, yes.

The Welsh Conservatives are committed to ending the use of wild animals in circuses. Does the Cabinet Secretary agree with me that laws relating to the welfare of animals, whether they are domestic pets, farm livestock or wildlife, would benefit from being consolidated into a single Act of this Assembly to ensure greater protection and enforcement in Wales?

I think the way society treats its animals says a lot about it, and I’ve just been over—. I was very pleased to sponsor the RSPCA event bringing forward awards for community work going on across our public sector in relation to animal welfare, and it’s clear we are a nation of animal lovers. I haven’t looked at bringing forward one piece of legislation. As I mentioned in my previous answer to Bethan Jenkins, I am looking at the codes of practice, what needs to be reviewed, what needs to be refreshed, and we can certainly monitor them. You will have heard my earlier answer to Lynne Neagle regarding wild animals in circuses and mobile animal exhibits, because I think that is an area that we don’t know much about, and I really want to see a significant piece of work in that area.