I'd like to reiterate a lot of what has been said already, and to thank Linda and the many people who signed the petition: 6,398. It certainly does make the work of the Petitions Committee very relevant when such an issue with such engagement from the public has taken place.

In 2015, the then Deputy Minister for Farming and Food stated that the Welsh Government were considering whether it would be appropriate to act alone in banning the use of wild animals in live circus performances. Here we are, three years later, and we remain with no current legal barriers to prohibit the use of wild animals in circuses in Wales. This debate, therefore, is exceptionally important and I do commend all who have signed.

The case for a ban has been well documented and evidenced over a number of years—a YouGov poll showing that 74 per cent of the public in Wales support the ban. We know that the complex and unique needs of wild animals simply cannot be met by any circus. Crucially, the Welsh Government's own review by Professor Harris backs this up, stating that scientific evidence indicates that captive wild animals in travelling circuses:

'do not achieve their optimal welfare requirements, as set out under the Animal Welfare Act 2006'.

Further stating that:

'Life for wild animals in travelling circuses and mobile zoos does not...constitute either a "good life" or a "life worth living".'

In 2016, the Secretary for environment and rural affairs stated that the Welsh Government was working towards a licensing system and has now pledged to bring forward a public consultation on mobile animal exhibits. Well, right now, I'm here today about the principle of banning wild animals in circuses. That is a separate issue, the mobile animal exhibits. The competency to bring in a ban under primary legislation has been under the Welsh Government's ability since the 2011 referendum, yet this power has not been used yet. I ask the Cabinet Secretary: you have this power, you have the legislation—please, for the animals, and also for all those who feel so strongly on this, please use that power. 

Given how far behind we are now from other legislatures in places like Bolivia, Bosnia, Paraguay, Peru, Costa Rica and Croatia, as well as, closer to home, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland, it is clear that the time has come. The RSPCA have highlighted the potential to use section 12 of the Animal Welfare Act rather than primary legislation to allow for the Welsh Government to easily make the regulations to bring in a ban with immediate effect, saving parliamentary time, resources, and possibly some animals. 

I would be interested to know what consideration Welsh Government has made of using these powers in this regard. We know that this method has been used in 2010 to introduce a ban on the use of electronic shock collars on dogs and cats in Wales, and more recently by the Irish Government to bring in a circus ban in the Republic of Ireland. If it's good enough for them, it has to be good enough for Wales.

Evidence provided by the petitioner noted concerns about injuries sustained by wild animals within a circus environment, notably detailing an injury to the rear leg of a lion in a circus near Carmarthen and the open and weeping sores on the legs of a baby young camel. Cabinet Secretary, these are clear animal welfare issues. The evidence is there, backed up by your own Government. The support is there. We know a majority of people in Wales support a ban and we have had this in our manifesto—the Welsh Conservatives—for many years. Please confirm today that you will in fact implement a ban. 

Finally, a huge thank you to Linda Joyce Jones, because she is not a politician, she's just one very determined lady. When Bethan said earlier about how she's written to you, she hasn't just written, she has pestered us, and she has done it in a lovely way, and I thank her for pestering us, because she hasn't let this go for a moment. If she hasn't got us through letter, through e-mail, through phone, she's got us on social media. She has done what you as a politician now could actually finish—the end result of this. Don't just make Linda happy, make us as Assembly Members, make our constituents, make our visitors, but, most of all, make those animals happy. No more wild animals in circuses. Thank you.