A DEBATE on the inadequacies of laws used to govern the running of zoos has been demanded by MP John Woodcock.

The parliamentarian spoke out during a session in the House of Commons, amid the ongoing saga of South Lakes Safari Zoo.

Widespread outrage was provoked when the Evening Mail revealed last month that hundreds of animals had died over a four-year period at the zoo.

Speaking to leader of the House of Commons, David Lidington, Mr Woodcock, who is MP for Barrow and Furness, said: "Will the Leader of the House and the environment secretary please consider the need for an urgent debate on the Zoo Licensing Act 1981, the alarming inadequacy of which has been exposed at South Lakes Safari Zoo in my constituency, which the Leader of the House might have seen in the news of late?

"There is a catalogue of reasons why the act and licensing regulations need to be modernised and professionalised.

"The matter has not been debated in the House for many years; in fact, the last debate was four years ago in the other place (the House of Lords)."

Mr Lidington responded: "I did, indeed, read the newspaper reports about what seems to have been a pretty appalling case of mismanagement and the ill treatment of a large number of animals at that zoo.

"There will be questions to the secretary of state for the environment, food and rural affairs on Thursday April 20."

A team of experts appointed by the Home Office spent two days at South Lakes Safari Zoo last week as part of a fresh application for a licence for the attraction from Cumbria Zoo Company Ltd.

The latest inspection represents the first chance for the new company, formed in January, to demonstrate improvements to the site since they took over full responsibility for its day-to-day management from founder David Gill.

An inspection of the zoo in January revealed animal welfare standards within an area managed directly by Mr Gill were poor and had resulted in the deaths of a series of exhibits.

A post mortem report also revealed nearly 500 animals died in just four years because of inappropriate animal husbandry and harrowing conditions.

The causes included emaciation, exposure and infighting within overstocked pens.

South Lakes Safari Zoo is operating without a licence after Barrow Borough Council bosses refused to renew the existing permit held in the name of Mr Gill who still owns the attraction.

A formal closure notice was also issued by members of BBC's licencing regulatory committee after they ruled the zoo had failed to comply with a series of direction orders put in place last year.

However, the zoo can remain open for 28 days pending an appeal of the licence refusal by Mr Gill.

Cumbria Zoo Company Ltd, of which Mr Gill is not a director, hopes to secure its own zoo licence from Barrow Borough Council in May.