The Social Security Committee takes evidence on the Social Security Bill from charities
Nicola Sturgeon is quizzed by opposition party leaders and MSPs during first minister's questions
Finance Secretary Derek Mackay delivers a ministerial statement on Air Departure Tax
The Scottish government delivers a ministerial statement on Scottish City Region Deals
MSPs debate the Wild Animals in Travelling Circuses Bill before voting on its general principles at decision time
SNP MSP Clare Adamson says values have changed and wild animals being kept in captivity and being used in travelling circuses no longer meets the tastes of society.
Ms Adamson says wild animals are wild and should be considered as such.
Image source, Anthony BeckwithThomas Chipperfield is understood to be the last lion tamer in Britain
In 2015 our colleagues in Wales reported that the man behind an animal show featuring performing lions and tigers denied his animals suffer in captivity.
Animal welfare groups have called for Thomas Chipperfield's show, An Evening with Lions and Tigers, to be banned.
Image source, Thomas ChipperfieldChecks are made on the animals kept by Thomas Chipperfield
Speaking to BBC Radio Wales' Jason Mohammad programme, Mr Chipperfield said all relevant animal welfare licences are in place and the animals are checked by vets.
"There's no scientific evidence whatsoever to support that claim (of animals suffering)," he said.
"The amount of studies that have been done with regards to the use of animals in live entertainment and zoos... the results always come back overwhelmingly in favour."
But animal welfare groups want the show stopped.
Adam Roberts, chief executive of the Born Free Foundation, said: "In the last two years, the big cats in question have been hauled around the whole of the UK and Ireland for the sole purpose of performing outdated circus tricks for paying audiences."
Tory MSP Peter Chapman says that because this Bill refers to wild animals, for once he does not have to declare an interest.
Although sometimes when he's on his farm dealing with cows he wonders if he would be better off keeping a lion.
Mr Chapman says he welcomes the Bill but questions why it is being pushed through now because wild animals have not been seen at circuses for many years and are unlikely to be in the near future.
The Tory MSP says this Bill is poorly drafted and he is concerned by the lack of definition of circus.
SNP MSP Emma Harper says she supports the Scottish government's Bill.
Ms Harper highlights the ethical focus of this Bill.
The SNP MSP says there was a time when people were displayed in travelling circuses but there became a time when this was no longer acceptable therefore she gets the ethical element of this Bill.
"19 countries have banned it so it is time for Scotland to lead the way in the UK," she says
Image source, RSPCARSPCA five freedoms
Image source, bbcLabour MSP David Stewart
Labour MSP David Stewart says he rises to speak in support of the general principles of the Wild Animals in Travelling Circuses (Scotland) Bill.
Mr Stewart says the five animal freedoms could not be met in a travelling circus.
He says council officers need to have a clear basis before initiating action against a circus.
Mr Stewart calls for a definition of the word circus on the face of the Bill.
He calls on the government to bring forward improvements to the legislation at Stage 2.
The Scottish government consultation in 2014 showed 98% respondents thought the use of wild animals for performance in travelling circuses should be banned and 96.4% thought the use of wild animals for exhibition (without performing) should be banned.
Both aspects are covered in the bill, which makes Scotland the first country in the UK to introduce legislation outlawing wild-animal circuses.
Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham unveiled the bill, which as well as prohibiting the use of any wild animal in a travelling circus on ethical grounds, also includes the power to enter premises and vehicles in order to search for and examine animals.
Image source, bbcConvener of the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee Graeme Dey MSP said: "We know that people feel very strongly about protecting wild animals in travelling circuses.
"In Scotland, the use of animals in circuses as a form of entertainment is somewhat of a rarity. In fact, such a travelling circus hasn't visited Scotland for many years.
"However, if this bill is passed, it will make it an offence for circus operators to use wild animals in travelling circuses in Scotland."
Image source, bbcTory MSP Donald Cameron
Tory MSP Donald Cameron says his party back the general principles of the Bill.
Mr Cameron says his party is committed to the highest standards of animal welfare.
The Tory MSP says the government response to the committee report only arrived this morning and he says he did not have time to read the 14 page letter.
He says his party supports a ban on the use of wild animals in a travelling circus, albeit there is no evidence of such a circus travelling in Scotland at this time.
The Tory MSPs says the Bill needs much improvement.
Image source, bbcMr Dey says the committee felt the decision to use ethical reasons in the Bill has not been well utilised and the animal welfare route would have been preferred.
Ms Cunningham says this would have delayed the legislation by years.
Mr Dey says the committee backs the aims of the Bill.
Image source, Scottish ParliamentMartin Burton said an "ethical" ban would lead to zoos being shut down
A ban on using wild animals in travelling circuses could eventually lead to zoos in Scotland being closed down, a circus leader has told MSPs.
A Bill is being considered to bolster animal protection by barring any use of wild animals in travelling shows.
Martin Burton of the Association of Circus Proprietors told MSPs that a law based on the proposed ethical grounds "will eventually close your zoos".
A government consultation found widespread support for a formal ban.
The Wild Animals in Travelling Circuses (Scotland) Bill would be the first of its kind in the UK, and is aimed at banning the use of non-domesticated animals for either performance or exhibition.
Holyrood's environment committee took evidence from a range of animal welfare and circus industry groups.
Environment and Climate Change Committee convener Graeme Dey says he welcomes Ms Cunningham's willingness to consider an amendment.
Mr Dey says "perhaps the elephant in the room", and that may not be the last pun, is the lack of definition of a circus.
He says lack of this may result in the Bill applying to other enterprises which would be unintended.
Mr Dey says the committee recommends a definition of circus to be included in the Bill.
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
Image source, Scottish ParliamentStage 1 Report on the Wild Animals in Travelling Circuses (Scotland) Bill
The Environment Committee produced a Stage 1 Report on the Wild Animals in Travelling Circuses (Scotland) Bill, external.
Convener Graham Dey says there are concerns around the definition of wild animals.
Mr Dey says the committee believes the definition could be made clearer as could the definition of domesticated.
Image source, bbcAn Evening With Lions and Tigers proprietor Anthony Beckwith
in June An Evening With Lions and Tigers proprietor Anthony Beckwith said his organisation do not scold or hit their animals but use praise and reward instead.
Mr Beckwith says they film all their training and it is available to view on their Facebook page, external.
Ms Cunningham says she does not believe that including a definitive list of animals in the Bill would be proportionate.
The environment secretary says her officials will continue to engage with stakeholder to draft the Bill.
She says this Bill seeks to stop a singular practice that is morally objectionable.
Image source, bbcEnvironment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham
Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham says the use of wild animals is unique amongst all other uses.
Ms Cunningham says it raises ethical questions in three areas.
She says wild animals can be used in static circuses or in zoos.
The minister says the Environment Committee's report , externalis concerned about the definition of a wild animal.
She says this is quite clear in the Bill.
Image source, bbcDr Dorothy McKeegan
In June Dr Dorothy McKeegan from the Institute of Biodiversity Animal Health and Comparative Medicine at the University of Glasgow told the Environment Committee arguments in the bill are valid.
Dr McKeegan said the use of wild animals in the circus is disrespectful.
She said there is a welfare argument not an ethical argument about the impact of travel on wild animals.
Dr McKeegan said the argument that the benefit is greater than the costs is difficult to argue in the context of wild animals travelling with circuses.
She says all three reasons are valid, with the costs and benefit argument being the strongest.
Ms Cunningham says welfare evidence varies greatly as to the type of circus animal.
The environment secretary says there are three main welfare concerns:
Image source, Getty ImagesIn May we reported MSPs on the Environment Committee would begin studying plans to ban circuses from using wild animals.
MSPs examined legislation to ban circuses from using any non-domesticated animal.
Following a government consultation, the committee will scrutinise the Wild Animals in Travelling Circuses (Scotland) Bill, external.
The Bill would make it an offence to use wild animals in travelling circuses.
The Scottish government announced the crackdown in 2016 as part of its legislative programme following a public consultation which overwhelmingly supported a ban.
Image source, bbcEnvironment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham
Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham says the Wild Animals in Travelling Circuses Bill, external will quite simply cause or prevent any wild animal to be used in travelling circuses in Scotland.