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| Circuses to be banned from using wild animals | Circuses to be banned from using wild animals |
| (25 days later) | |
| Circuses will be banned from using wild animals in their shows under new government proposals that have been published after a long campaign. | Circuses will be banned from using wild animals in their shows under new government proposals that have been published after a long campaign. |
| Politicians and animal welfare groups have repeatedly called for the measure and in June 2011 MPs overwhelmingly supported a blanket ban, but ministers were initially reluctant to meet their demands due to fears over possible legal action from circus operators. | Politicians and animal welfare groups have repeatedly called for the measure and in June 2011 MPs overwhelmingly supported a blanket ban, but ministers were initially reluctant to meet their demands due to fears over possible legal action from circus operators. |
| The government's plan will make it an offence for any operator to use a wild animal in performance or exhibition in a travelling circus in England from 1 December 2015. | The government's plan will make it an offence for any operator to use a wild animal in performance or exhibition in a travelling circus in England from 1 December 2015. |
| The agriculture minister David Heath told MPs: "This 'grace period' is to allow operators of travelling circuses a reasonable period of time to adapt their businesses and organise suitable care arrangements for their wild animals." | The agriculture minister David Heath told MPs: "This 'grace period' is to allow operators of travelling circuses a reasonable period of time to adapt their businesses and organise suitable care arrangements for their wild animals." |
| Under the terms of the draft wild animals in circuses bill the ban will cover any creature not normally domesticated in Great Britain. | Under the terms of the draft wild animals in circuses bill the ban will cover any creature not normally domesticated in Great Britain. |
| The government has already introduced strict regulations to improve conditions for performing animals until the law is changed. | The government has already introduced strict regulations to improve conditions for performing animals until the law is changed. |
| Tory Mark Pritchard, whose backbench motion in 2011 calling for a ban was passed without a vote in the Commons, welcomed the announcement. | Tory Mark Pritchard, whose backbench motion in 2011 calling for a ban was passed without a vote in the Commons, welcomed the announcement. |
| He said: "I am delighted the government have finally decided to introduce a ban. | He said: "I am delighted the government have finally decided to introduce a ban. |
| "This is a victory for animal welfare and common sense – and proves that politicians who have belief, stick to their principles, and persevere despite hostile opposition, can still shape events." | "This is a victory for animal welfare and common sense – and proves that politicians who have belief, stick to their principles, and persevere despite hostile opposition, can still shape events." |
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