Contributions
331 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDWild Animals in Circuses (No.2) Bill (First sitting)Q Circuses can have magic acts, which often use doves. Is that a problem? Would they be domesticated or not? Jordi Casamitjana: According to the definition, doves are…21 May 2019HANSARDWild Animals in Circuses (No.2) Bill (First sitting)And you are happy with how it will work in future if the Bill is passed. Angie Greenaway: Yes.21 May 2019HANSARDWild Animals in Circuses (No.2) Bill (First sitting)Q You are happy that it is pretty clear which birds are or are not protected, and there is no need for me to worry. Jordi Casamitjana: It is very clear, because it is based on the…21 May 2019HANSARDWild Animals in Circuses (No.2) Bill (First sitting)So you do not think it needs clarifying at all. Jordi Casamitjana: I can help on this, because I have the guidance. It is correct: budgerigars would be included and parrots would…21 May 2019HANSARDWild Animals in Circuses (No.2) Bill (First sitting)Q I would be worried if parrots that are close to extinction were not covered by the Bill. Dr Chris Draper: In my understanding I think it would be a very sensible application of…21 May 2019HANSARDWild Animals in Circuses (No.2) Bill (First sitting)Q I mentioned parrots and budgerigars. Dr Chris Draper: I do not believe most parrot species would be considered domesticated; but budgerigars would be.21 May 2019HANSARDWild Animals in Circuses (No.2) Bill (First sitting)Q If I could just interrupt you, we have heard from the RSPCA that there are birds that would be considered domesticated. Dr Chris Draper: That is correct.21 May 2019HANSARDWild Animals in Circuses (No.2) Bill (First sitting)Q Some of the rarest birds are new world parrots—macaws. They are threatened with extinction. Some of them are hybridised for the pet market, so there are parrots—macaws—that…21 May 2019HANSARDWild Animals in Circuses (No.2) Bill (First sitting)I am a strong supporter of this Bill, but I just wanted to find out where we are with birds.21 May 2019HANSARDWild Animals in Circuses (No.2) Bill (First sitting)Q But you are still arguing that the wider definition that you give in paragraph 3.2 of your evidence—a definition that is not in the Bill—is needed. You want that. Dr Ros Clubb:…21 May 2019HANSARDWild Animals in Circuses (No.2) Bill (First sitting)Q Is it not true that if your definition of a travelling circus was included, it would make it more likely that falconers would be covered? Dr Ros Clubb: If they are not coming…21 May 2019HANSARDWild Animals in Circuses (No.2) Bill (First sitting)Q If one of those falconers decided, rather than travelling back to the Isle of Wight every night, to make arrangements with farmers to put birds in a particular aviary overnight…21 May 2019HANSARDWild Animals in Circuses (No.2) Bill (First sitting)Q If a travelling circus did a deal with one of the falconers in the constituency of my hon. Friend the Member for Isle of Wight to do some shows, introducing the falconry…21 May 2019HANSARDWild Animals in Circuses (No.2) Bill (First sitting)Q They would remain wild. In your evidence from the RSPCA, you suggest that you wanted a wider definition of “travelling circus” to include any company or group that travels from…21 May 2019HANSARDWild Animals in Circuses (No.2) Bill (First sitting)Q Falconry displays go back to the middle ages and are long-established events. Is falconry and keeping a falcon equivalent to domesticating a falcon or not? Dr Ros Clubb: In…21 May 2019HANSARDWild Animals in Circuses (No.2) Bill (First sitting)Q So they could be covered by the Bill? Dr Ros Clubb: I would not envisage that they would be covered by the Bill.21 May 2019HANSARDWild Animals in Circuses (No.2) Bill (First sitting)Q What about birds used in magic shows such as doves? Would they be covered? Dr Ros Clubb: I would not envisage magic shows as falling within the definition of travelling…21 May 2019HANSARDWild Animals in Circuses (No.2) Bill (First sitting)Q Would that be birds that are commonly kept as pets, such as budgerigars and parrots? Dr Ros Clubb: They are considered to be domesticated.21 May 2019HANSARDWild Animals in Circuses (No.2) Bill (First sitting)Q Are there any birds that would still be able to perform in a travelling circus if this Bill was passed? Dr Ros Clubb: Using the definition of “wild animal”, some species that…21 May 2019HANSARDWild Animals in Circuses (No.2) Bill (First sitting)Q Birds are covered by the Bill because the Animal Welfare Act 2006 defines an animal as being a vertebrate. Is that correct? Dr Ros Clubb: Yes that is correct.21 May 2019