First Special Report
Introduction
1.The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee reported to the House on Greyhound welfare in its Second Report of Session 2015–16, published on 25 February 2016, as HC 478.
2.The Government’s response to the Report was received by the Committee on 18 May 2016, and is attached to this Report as an Appendix.
Comment on the Government’s response
3.We welcome the review being undertaken by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) in respect of the welfare of greyhounds and the governing Regulations created in 2010. We note that the Government’s response to our Report refers to actions to be taken once that review has been completed, but also that no indication is given of when that will be or when any subsequent actions will occur. We seek clarification from the Government of when the outcomes of that review will be published.
4.Defra notes in its response that it is working closely with the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB), and this is welcome. However, there is a notable absence in the response of focus on the smaller but no less significant independent greyhound racing sector. We urge the Department to consider encompassing the independent sector within the codes of practice being constructed with the GBGB, particularly as regards the publication of injury, retirement and euthanasia data. We also urge the Department to set out clearly what alternative will be considered if voluntary self-regulation and transparency fail to improve welfare standards for racing dogs at tracks operated both within and outside the GBGB system.
5.We welcome the Department’s assurances that pressure has been brought to bear upon the betting industry to make ‘appropriate contributions’ towards greyhound welfare. We seek an assurance from Government that the ‘encouraging response’ from the bookmaking industry to calls for greater welfare contribution will result in increased payments to support animal welfare in the racing sector. We seek, too, an indication of what further pressure will be brought to bear if this does not transpire within a reasonable time frame.
© Parliamentary copyright 2015
16 June 2016