Banning wild animals from circuses could breach Human Rights, claims Minister



'Farce': Environment Minister Jim Paice claimed banning wild animals from the circus would breach their human rights

Banning the use of wild animals in circuses could be in breach of the Human Rights Act, a junior minister claimed today.

To howls of laughter from the Labour benches, environment minister Jim Paice said a case was being prepared by the European Circuses Association against the Austrian government after it banned the use of performing animals.

He said an earlier statement that the case was already moving through the courts was inaccurate but his clarification did not change the Government's legal position on any ban.

Mr Paice said: 'The very strong legal advice which we have received, and which is consistent with the case being prepared against Austria, is that a total ban on wild animals in circuses might well be seen as disproportionate action under the European Union Services Directive and under our own Human Rights Act.'

Mr Paice added: 'To have pursued a ban in light of that legal advice we believe would have been irresponsible.'

But shadow environment secretary Mary Creagh said 'the big top was spinning out of control' at the Environment Department as ministers did not seem to know whether there was currently a legal challenge.

She challenged the Government to place the legal advice it had received in the Commons library so it could be scrutinised by MPs.

'On the legal cases that don't exist and hiding behind human rights legislation, it is this department which is pathetic,' she said.

Environmental campaigners have called for wild animals to be banned from the circus - but the Minister suggested it would not be possible

Turning to Mr Paice, she added: 'Will you take this opportunity now to apologise for misleading the House and the British public and stop hiding behind some circus owners, who may at some point in the future, after six years of failed national and European legal challenges, be bringing another case?

'That is no reason not to ban wild animals in British circuses.'

She also criticised the Government's plans to get local authorities to monitor circuses as they moved around the country.

'This is another all-singing, all-dancing disaster from the worst performing department in Government,' she said.