Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether greyhound stadiums are permitted to (a) open food outlets in line with Government guidance issued on the reopening of restaurants and (b) allow owners access to their racecourses while continuing to operate greyhound racing behind closed doors during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
Greyhound racing should follow sector specific guidance as well as relevant government guidance including mass gatherings, sports stadia and, where relevant, pubs and restaurants regarding the reopening of food outlets and owners access to racecourses.
On 4 May 2020 the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) produced a phased Operational Policy that would facilitate racing behind closed doors in a safe, effective and stage-by-stage manner. This includes strict, comprehensive controls relating to hygiene and social distancing protocols, whilst promoting the highest levels of greyhound welfare.
Asked by: Conor McGinn (Independent - St Helens North)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what (a) financial and (b) other support his Department has provided to the greyhound racing sector as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
Greyhound racing, as part of the leisure industry, is eligible to access the help announced by the Chancellor on 17 March. This set out a business rates holiday for businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors, irrespective of rateable value, so that all eligible businesses will pay no business rates for 12 months. On 18 March, MHCLG published guidance for local authorities on the application of the relief.
In addition, the government has announced the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, through which all UK employers will be able to access support to continue paying part of their employees’ salary for those employees that would otherwise have been laid off during this crisis. Furthermore, the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme provides loans of up to £5 million for SMEs through the British Business Bank, backed by an 80% government guarantee.
Officials continue to be in regular communication with the Greyhound Board of Great Britain to understand the needs of the sector during this time and ensure they are aware of central government guidance as we work towards the resumption of greyhound racing.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions he has had with representatives from the UK Gambling Commission on the commission's 2019 funding commitment to the Greyhound Trust; and what estimate he has made of the value of the funding allocated to that trust by the commission.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Gambling Commission does not provide funding to the Greyhound Trust.
Most betting operators pay voluntary contributions of 0.6% of their turnover from greyhound racing to the British Greyhound Racing Fund, who use some of this to provide funding for the Greyhound Trust.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Government plans to undertake a review the Welfare of Racing Greyhounds Regulations 2010.
Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General
Defra undertook a Post Implementation Review of the Welfare of Racing Greyhounds Regulations 2010 which was published on 15 September 2016. The review found that, judged against their original objectives, the regulations have been broadly effective. The review also identified areas where the industry themselves should be taking further action and Defra have been working closely with the main industry regulatory body, the Greyhound Board of Great Britain, to ensure these actions are taken.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if the Government will take steps to encourage members of the public to adopt more (a) black dogs and (b) greyhounds, which are reportedly adopted at a slower rate than other types of dog.
Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General
The Government advises anyone looking to acquire a pet dog to consider adopting a rescue in the first instance. Any dog, including the famous greyhound breed, is capable of providing owners with love, loyalty and pleasure for its owner and family. Animal rescue and rehoming charities are aware that black dogs can be harder to rehome than other colours and encourage people to adopt animals in their care, regardless of colour.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Minister of State, Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether he is taking steps to promote the sport of greyhound racing; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Matt Warman
In January 2019, the Government announced that it had secured a new funding commitment from five of the largest online bookmakers worth an estimated £3 million annually to ensure the welfare of greyhounds is protected and improved. This is in addition to the existing voluntary payments made to the British Greyhound Racing Fund from most betting operators that benefit from greyhound racing, which sit alongside commercial deals between the betting and racing industries.
We will continue to encourage any remaining bookmakers that have not signed up to the voluntary arrangements to follow suit and support greyhound racing.
Asked by: John Baron (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what responsibilities local authorities have to ensure high standards of animal welfare in their area.
Answered by George Eustice
Local authorities respond to individual cases of animal welfare and can allocate resources based on local priorities. Under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, local authorities in England and Wales have powers to enforce the Animal Welfare Act 2006, which includes powers of entry and seizure in order to inspect allegations of poor animal welfare and cruelty.
Local authorities also have primary responsibility for the enforcement of legislation concerning animal welfare on farm, in transport and at markets. In addition, in England, local authorities have a statutory duty to enforce The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018, which regulate pet selling, dog breeding, dog and cat boarding, riding schools and exhibiting animals. Under the 2018 Regulations, local authorities have powers to issue, refuse and revoke licences for the five regulated activities. Local authorities are also responsible for licensing zoos under the Zoo Licensing Act 1981 and independent racing greyhound tracks under The Welfare of Racing Greyhounds Regulations 2010”.
Anyone concerned about a local authority’s handling of animal welfare cases can raise this in the first instance with the relevant local authority, of if not satisfied with the outcome, can refer the matter to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman.
Asked by: Paul Farrelly (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing a statutory levy in greyhound racing for greyhound welfare.
Answered by Rebecca Pow - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
On 10th January 2019 the Government announced a new funding commitment from bookmakers, worth an estimated £3 million this year, to ensure the welfare of greyhounds is protected and improved. This commitment is set to increase the total amount of the voluntary levy bookmakers pay to the British Greyhound Racing Fund (BGRF) to an estimated £10m this year. We expect thousands of racing greyhounds will be better cared for as a result of this new deal.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether his Department has plans to establish a statutory greyhound race betting levy to improve the welfare of racing greyhounds.
Answered by Mims Davies - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
On 10th January 2019, the Government announced a new funding commitment from bookmakers worth an estimated £3 million this year to ensure the welfare of greyhounds is protected and improved. This commitment is set to increase the total amount of the voluntary levy bookmakers pay to the British Greyhound Racing Fund (BGRF) to an estimated £10m this year. We expect thousands of racing greyhounds are to be better cared for as a result of this new deal.
Government has no current plans to introduce a statutory levy. We will continue to work with the betting and greyhound industries to make sure that greyhound welfare is safeguarded and remains at the heart of the sport.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Second report of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee of Session 2015–16, Greyhound welfare published on 10 February 2016 and its recommendation that regulations should be extended beyond racetracks to cover standards at trainers’ kennels, if he will amend the Welfare of Racing Greyhound Regulations 2010.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 25 June to the hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme, Paul Farrelly, to PQ 265461. The Government is currently considering whether changes are required to the Welfare of Racing Greyhound Regulations 2010 to protect the welfare of racing greyhounds used by professional trainers not running greyhounds on tracks regulated by the industry regulator, the Greyhound Board of Great Britain.