I know that the UK Government remains fully committed to introducing a ban on wild animals in circuses in England this Parliament, in accordance with the pledge in our manifesto at the last General Election.
Currently, the ban stands to impact on two travelling circuses in England that now operate with only a small number of wild animals. Conditions of the remaining wild animals at both circuses are closely monitored under Defra's interim Welfare of Wild Animals in Travelling Circuses (England) Regulations 2012, through regular announced and unannounced welfare inspections.
In Wales, the welfare of animals is a devolved matter for the Welsh Government. My Conservative colleagues in the Welsh Assembly have been calling for a complete ban on the use of wild animals in circuses and it's welcome to see the Welsh Government taking action as a result. Wales deserves to see the Welsh Government using its own powers to make a difference in this area and I am encouraged that Welsh Ministers have called for a review to look into this issue.