Schedule 4 - Abolition of the Horserace Betting Levy System: Consequential Amendments
Horserace Betting and Olympic Lottery Bill
10:45 am
Ms Kali Mountford (Colne Valley, Labour)
The amendment again probes the Minister's intentions. He offered us a pretty stout belt earlier today when we were discussing the welfare of animals, both at the track with vets and post-retirement.
The amendment would give the Gaming Board responsibility to monitor animal welfare at the track, including such aspects as the height and type of jump that the animal is asked to address, the type of stabling available at the track and the animal's welfare during the race. We would therefore be assured that the present good practice would continue well into the future.
I hope that the Minister will be able to tell me, as he did earlier, that the welfare of animals at the track is already assured, in which case I shall consider what he says. All members of the Committee have agreed today that the racing industry has greater concern for the welfare of animals than other sports have, but I want to see that carried through to the future. That is what the amendment seeks to achieve.