Animal welfare is a devolved issue here in Scotland, and therefore it is for the Scottish Parliament to regulate the use of wild animals in circuses. I am proud that in December my Scottish Conservative colleagues helped pass a law banning the use of wild animals in Scottish circuses. That law will come into force this year. Sadly I was unable to attend the debate in Parliament due to constituency surgeries.
The needs of non-domesticated wild animals simply cannot be met in a travelling circus, either in terms of housing or in terms of their ability to express normal behaviour. A ban is, therefore, necessary to ensure our high standards of animal welfare apply to all animals, including the relatively few wild animals left in circuses.
You rightly point out that the UK Government is also committed to banning the use of wild animals in circuses in England, where it has responsibility for animal welfare, and plans to implement such a ban by early 2020. I fully support these efforts and look forward to the day when no wild animals are used in British circuses.