About the Bill
The Wild Animals in Travelling Circuses (Scotland) Bill was introduced on 10 May 2017 and the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee was designated as the lead Committee on 17 May 2017.
The Bill proposes make it an offence for circus operators to use (performance, display or exhibition) wild animals in travelling circuses.
The Bill and associated documents can be found at the following link:
Wild Animals in Travelling Circuses (Scotland) Bill Page
SPICe Briefings
SPICe Briefing: Wild Animals in Travelling Circuses (Scotland) Bill
Stage 1
The Committee's timetable for consideration of the Bill at Stage 1 will be:
| 17 May 2017 |
Launch of Call for Evidence
|
| 23 May 2017 |
Bill team evidence session
|
| 6 June 2017 |
Evidence session with stakeholders 1
|
| 9 June 2017 |
Close of Call for Evidence
|
| 13 June 2017 |
Evidence session with stakeholders 2
|
| 27 June 2017 |
Cabinet Secretary evidence session |
Evidence
Call for Views
The Committee's call for views on the Bill is now closed.
You can read evidence received by the Committee at the link below.
Written Evidence
What happens next?
The Committee will take oral evidence on the Bill at public Committee meetings in May and June 2017. The Committee will then publish a report of its views on the Bill to the Scottish Parliament following the summer recess.
Correspondence
On 10 May, the Committee received correspondence from the Cabinet Secretary indicating the Scottish Government intend to further legislate on the issue of performing acnimals to "protect the welfare of animals used for public performances or display in circumstances other than circuses".
Letter received on 5 June 2017 from Andrew Voas, Veterinary Adviser to the Scottish Government advising the Committee of a delay in publishing the Scottish Government's consultation responses on Wild Animals Travelling in Circuses (Scotland) Bill from 2014.
The Committee received correspondence from the Scottish Government on 9 June 2017 notifying it of the publication of the consultation responses.
On 16 April 2018, the Committee received correspondence from the Scottish Government including guidance on the Act
On 25 April 2018, the Committee wrote to the Scottish Government with its views on the guidance.
The Cabinet Secretary provided an update on the guidance on 3 May 2018
Work by other Committees
The Delegated Powers and Law Reform considered the Wild Animals in Travelling Circuses (Scotland) Bill at Stage 1 at its meeting on 23 May 2017. You can read the report of the Committee, as well as the papers for its meeting, via the links below.
The Finance and Constitution Committee is also considering the Bill. You can navigate to the Committee's Bill page via the link below. The Committee has issued a call for evidence on the Financial Memorandum of the Bill which closes on 9 June 2017.
Finance and Constitution Committee - Wild Animals in Travelling Circuses (Scotland) Bill page
Report
On 22 September 2017, the Committee published its 9th Report 2017 on Stage 1 Report on the Wild Animals in Travelling Circuses (Scotland) Bill.
Letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform responding to the Committees Stage 1 Report on the Wild Animals in Travelling Circuses (Scotland) Bill.