Wild Animals in Circuses Bill: Commons remaining stages

Commons remaining stages (report stage and third reading)

Both the report stage and third reading of the Bill will take place on Tuesday 4 June 2019.

The debate is expected to start at approximately 7pm after today's urgent questions and ministerial statements.

• Watch Parliament TV: Wild Animals in Circuses Bill (No. 2) remaining Commons stages
• Transcripts of proceedings in the House of Commons Chamber are available in Hansard online three hours after they happen.

The Wild Animals in Circuses Bill (No. 2) Bill 2016-17

Summary of the Bill

There has been a long running campaign to ban the use of wild animals in travelling circuses. The Wild Animals in Circuses (No2) Bill will introduce a ban in England and passed its second reading on 7 May 2019. A ban already exists in Scotland and there are proposals for a ban in Wales.

Keep up to date with all the proceedings and documentation, including amendment papers, on the Wild Animals in Circuses Bill (No. 2) Bill and find out how a bill becomes an Act of Parliament.

• Follow Bills before Parliament: Wild Animals in Circuses Bill (No. 2) Bill
• About Parliament: Passage of a Bill through Parliament

House of Commons Library analysis

The House of Commons Library produces briefing papers to inform MPs and their staff of key issues. The papers contain factual information and a range of opinions on each subject, and aim to be politically impartial.

The Library has published a briefing paper about the Bill:

• Read Library briefing paper: Wild Animals in Circuses (No 2) Bill

Wild Animals in Circuses (No. 2) Bill: previous Commons stages

Committee stage

The Public Bill Committee considered the Bill from 21 to 22 May and then reported the Bill to the House with amendments.

Find out more about the Public Bill Committee:

• Wild Animals in Circuses (No. 2) Bill :Committee membership, proceedings and written evidence

Second reading

Opening the debate for the Government the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, David Rutley, said;

"Continuing to allow wild animals to perform often absurd and unnecessary behaviours for our amusement in travelling circuses goes against the Government's efforts towards—and the House's interests in—raising awareness and respect for animals. People can continue to enjoy the experience of going to a circus, but we must move on from the age when wild animals were paraded around as a spectacle."

The Bill received support across the House, though some MPs raised some concerns on the specifics of the Bill, including that the definition of "travelling circus" needed clarification.

• Watch Parliament TV: Second reading of the Wild Animals in Circuses Bill (No. 2) Bill
• Read Commons Hansard: Second reading of the Wild Animals in Circuses Bill (No. 2) Bill

Following the debate, the second reading of the Bill passed without division and continued to committee stage for closer examination.

Image: PA

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