Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Coronavirus Zoo Animals Fund

Thursday 22 April 2021 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The zoo animals fund has supported 56 zoos during the pandemic.
  • The fund aims to ensure the welfare of zoo animals and prevent euthanasia.
  • The Minister stated that the fund is being effectively used on the ground.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Chris Matheson Lab
Context

The question arises from concerns about the impact of the pandemic on zoos and their ability to care for animals. The MP questions the actual efficacy of the £100 million announcement.

Question

What recent assessment has been made of the effectiveness of the coronavirus zoo animals fund?

Answer from Victoria Prentis

The zoo animals fund has supported a wide variety of zoos throughout the pandemic—56 to date—and it continues to do so. It has helped to ensure the continued welfare of zoo animals and to prevent unnecessary euthanasia. We are really pleased that zoos of all sizes and types have been able to secure funding.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer does not provide a specific assessment or evaluation of the fund's effectiveness.

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Q2 Chris Matheson Lab
Science & Technology Environment
Context

The MP is concerned that the initial £100 million announcement has only resulted in limited spending and does not address long-term conservation efforts. He seeks an extension to cover such areas.

Question

The problem is that the £100 million announcement was more froth than substance, with only £5 million or £6 million of it being spent and not returned to the Treasury. Will Ministers now agree to extend the zoos fund to the important conservation, educational and scientific work that is the bedrock of so much of what our zoos contribute to the global situation?

Answer from Victoria Prentis

I do not accept that. This is a real fund, which is being used on the ground to help zoos get through the pandemic. I am very pleased, as I know the hon. Gentleman is, that Chester zoo is now open and that baby Albert the giraffe is open to view. We have extended the fund, for example, to include repairs and maintenance. We continue to work on the fund, but I politely suggest that other Government and UK funds are available to help with the important conservation work done by zoos, such as the Darwin initiative and the green recovery challenge fund. I encourage the hon. Gentleman to work with Chester zoo to look at whether those would be suitable.

Not addressed: The MP's specific ask for an extension of the fund was not directly addressed; instead, alternative funds were suggested.

How: Suggesting Alternative Funds

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