Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2005-10-12-Speech-3-232"
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"en.20051012.20.3-232"2
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"Mr President, it is entirely appropriate that we should be debating the circus in this House, considering that the European Parliament is the biggest travelling circus in the world, although I fear that many of my constituents in the English East Midlands may wonder if we do not have more important issues to address.
I have been approached by members of the public who worry about the use of animals in circuses and the possibility of cruel or harmful treatment. I share their concern. I urge Member State governments to ensure that circus animals are subject to appropriate regulation and inspection. However, I believe that the idea of banning animals from circuses goes too far. It is one thing to support animal welfare; it is quite another to ban a much-loved and traditional feature of the circus, which, as Mrs Pack’s report rightly says, is a recognised and ancient part of European culture.
There is a close parallel here with the issue of hunting, another target of the animal rights movement. The same criteria apply: hunting should be, and normally is, conducted with due attention to animal welfare issues. However, English fox hunting – like the circus – is a vital part of English cultural heritage and especially so in the East Midlands, which I represent.
I would oppose any move to ban animals from circuses and I oppose the unjust and counterproductive ban on fox hunting recently introduced in my own country."@en1
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