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Animal Welfare Bill

My Lords, we, too, look favourably on the amendment. As the noble Baroness, Lady Miller of Chilthorne Domer, knows, in Committee I moved an amendment totally to ban the use of wild animals in circuses. Obviously things have moved on since then. We are lucky in that time has passed between stages of the Bill. I would be grateful for the Minister’s clarification of one or two matters when he responds. There are currently two working groups on circuses. One, I believe, deals only with the welfare standards of performing animals. I also understand that another group was set up in July/August, chaired by Mike Radford, to consider scientific evidence of the welfare of those animals. We now hear that another working group may be set up. I am becoming confused about the number of working groups and study groups there are, and it would be enormously helpful if the Minister could clarify this. The Government’s decisions on these issues must be based on scientific evidence; otherwise it is very difficult to make judgments. I was glad to hear the noble Baroness say that the working group’s remit will be altered to include the training of these animals. I was not aware of that. Again, will the Minister clarify that? I should add that it seems, unless the Minister tells me to the contrary, that no animals from the wild are put to perform in circuses. If that is not so, that is another worrying matter. I look forward to hearing the Minister’s answers.