Group 1: Offence to use wild animals in travelling circuses (Amendments 1, 3, 2)

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 7:22 pm on 8 July 2020.

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Photo of Llyr Gruffydd Llyr Gruffydd Plaid Cymru 7:22, 8 July 2020

Diolch, Llywydd. Well, thank you for the contributions to this discussion around this first group of amendments. I'm slightly saddened, Minister, by you sort of grudgingly accepting that wild animals could tour with circuses in Wales in the autumn, when actually we could legislate now, today, to stop that from happening.

And you referred to the 'peaceful enjoyment of possessions', to quote your words, as a human right. Even when it contravenes animal welfare? I think there are serious questions, really, that need to be asked around that. I just feel it's quite perverse that we're legislating here to protect the welfare of wild animals in travelling circuses and then choosing to define that in such a narrow way that we're actually missing a real opportunity here to extend it beyond just performance and exhibition.

You mentioned the fact that there are other pieces of legislation in place that protect the welfare of animals. I understand that that is the case, yes, but we're getting a clear message from a number of animal welfare organisations that I've referred to, telling us that they support these amendments. So, there must be something that isn't right in the current provisions that are out there. So, I am disappointed that you're not accepting these amendments, and I'm sure the wider public, as well, will be quite perplexed by this and will share my disappointment.

So, I would urge Members not to waste this opportunity to make as much of a difference as we can in this legislation, and I would ask you to support both Plaid Cymru amendments this afternoon.