Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the importance of the British thoroughbred racing industry to the UK rural economy.

The Government is committed to driving sustainable growth in the rural economy. Our world leading horseracing industry employs over 17,000 people nationally and contributes around £3.5 billion to the national economy each year, and plays a significant role in rural areas.