Wild Animals and Circuses (Wales) Act 2020

Wild Animals and Circuses (Wales) Act 2020

A Welsh Government Bill, introduced by Lesley Griffiths MS, Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs. The Business Committee remitted the Bill to the Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee.

 

 

About the Bill

 

The policy objective of the Bill is to prohibit the use of wild animals in travelling circuses in Wales.

 

The Bill seeks to make it an offence for a wild animal (as defined in the Bill) to be used in a travelling circus. A wild animal is used if the animal performs or is exhibited. The offence would be committed by the person who is the operator (as defined in the Bill) of the travelling circus if they use, or cause or permit another person to use a wild animal in the travelling circus. A person guilty of such an offence is liable on summary conviction to a fine.

 

The Bill will not affect the use of domesticated animals in travelling circuses, nor will it prevent wild animals being used for entertainment in other settings, including static circuses.

 

Further detail about the Bill can be found in its accompanying Explanatory Memorandum.

 

Current Stage

 

The Wild Animals and Circuses (Wales) Act 2020 became law in Wales on 7 September 2020

 

Record of Passage in the Senedd

The following table sets out the dates for each stage of the Bill’s passage through the Senedd.

 

Stage

Documents

Bill introduced: 8 July 2019

Wild Animals and Circuses (Wales) Bill, as introduced

 

Explanatory Memorandum

 

Presiding Officer’s Statement: 8 July 2019

 

Business Committee – Timetable for consideration of the Wild Animals and Circuses (Wales) Bill

 

Letter to the Chair of the Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee - Wild Animals and Circuses (Wales) Bill - Statement of Policy Intent   PDF 259 KB

 

Wild Animals and Circuses (Wales) Bill - Statement of Policy Intent   PDF 177 KB

 

Stage 1: Committee considerations of general principles

The Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee considered its approach to Stage 1 consideration on 10 July 2019.

 

The Committee issued an open call for evidence on the Bill.

 

The consultation has now closed.

 

 

Committee dates

The Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee considered the Bill on the following dates:

 

Date and Agenda

Purpose of meeting

Transcript

Senedd.TV

10 July 2019

Consideration of Approach to Stage 1 Scrutiny (Private)

Private

Private

18 July 2019

Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs

18 July 2019 transcript

View the meeting of 18 July 2019

18 September 2019

Oral evidence session

18 September 2019 transcript

View the meeting of 18 September 2019

26 September 2019

Oral evidence session

26 September 2019 transcript

View the meeting of 26 September 2019

2 October 2019

Oral evidence session

02 October 2019 transcript

View the meeting of 02 October 2019

10 October 2019

Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs

10 October 2019 transcript

View the meeting of 10 October

 

The Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee  considered the Bill on the following dates:

 

Date and Agenda

 

 

21 October 2019

 

Purpose of meeting

 

Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs

Transcript

 

21 October 2019 transcript

 

 

 

Senedd.TV

 

View the meeting of 21 October

 

 

The Finance Committee considered the Bill on the following date:

 

Date and Agenda

 

03 October 2019

Purpose of meeting

 

Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs - Financial implications of the Bill

Transcript

 

 

O3 October 2019 transcript

Senedd.TV

 

 

View the meeting of 03 October 2019

 

Stage 1 Reports

 

The Finance Committee wrote to the Chair of the Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee on 14 October 2019 on the financial implications of the Bill.

 

The Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee laid its report on the Bill (PDF, 1MB) on 4 December 2019.

 

The Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee laid its Stage 1 Report on 06 December 2019.

 

Stage 1: Debate in Plenary on general principles

A debate took place in Plenary on 07 January 2020. The motion to agree the general principles of the Bill was agreed.

 

Financial Resolution

In accordance with Standing Order 26.68 the Presiding Officer has decided that a financial resolution is not required for this Bill. Further information about financial resolutions is available in section 3 of the Guide to the scrutiny stages for Public Bills.

 

Letter from the Presiding Officer on financial resolution – 15 November 2019

 

Stage 2: Committee consideration of amendments

Stage 2 began on 08 January 2020. Details of tabled amendments will be published here.

 

Stage 2 consideration took place in Committee on 05 February 2020. The deadline for tabling amendments is five working days before the date of the meeting at which they are due to be considered.

 

Notice of Amendments – 15 January 2020

 

Notice of Amendments – 28 January 2020

 

Marshalled List of Amendments – 30 January 2020

 

Groupings of Amendments – 30 January 2020

 

Wild Animals and Circuses (Wales) Bill, unamended at Stage 2 – 05 February 2020

 

Stage 3: Plenary consideration of amendments

Following the completion of Stage 2 proceedings, Stage 3 commenced on 6 February 2020.

 

Notice of Amendments – 09 March 2020

 

Notice of Amendments – 10 March 2020

 

Marshalled list of Amendments – 02 July 2020

 

Groupings of Amendments – 02 July 2020

Stage 3 consideration took place in Plenary on 08 July 2020 to consider amendments to the Bill (as amended at Stage 2). The deadline for tabling amendments is five working days before the date of the meeting at which they are due to be considered.

Stage 3 consideration and disposal of amendments took place in Plenary on 8 July 2020.

 

Wild Animals and Circuses (Wales) Bill (Unamended at Stage 3) – 10 July 2020

 

Stage 4: Passing of the Bill in Plenary

 

The Bill was agreed by the Senedd on 15 July 2020

 

Wild Animals and Circuses (Wales) Bill, as passed – 17 July 2020

 

Printing changes to the Wild Animals and Circuses (Wales) Bill  – 17 July 2020

 

Post-stage 4

 

The Solicitor General, on behalf of the Attorney General; the Counsel General, and the Secretary of State for Wales wrote to the Presiding Officer to advise that they would not be referring the Wild Animals and Circuses (Wales) Bill to the Supreme Court under Sections 112 or 114 of the Government of Wales Act 2006 – August 2020

 

 

Royal Assent

 

Royal Assent was given on 7 September 2020

 

Contact information

Clerk: Elizabeth Wilkinson

Phone: 0300 200 6361

 

Postal address:

Welsh Parliament

Cardiff Bay

Cardiff     CF99 1SN

 

Email: SeneddCCERA@Senedd.Wales

 

Business type: Bill

Status: Complete

First published: 08/07/2019

Documents

Consultations