Chamber and committees

Who provides that data to you?

I want to pick up on the mortality rate, which you mentioned. It is connected to what Edward Mountain said about the use of antibiotics. What is the mortality rate as a percentage over whatever time?

He seems to be quite open to that.

I noticed that you said that the Scottish SPCA as an enforcement agency can only go off its own bat following a complaint. However, Mr Brignal tried to give us the impression—that wording is perhaps unkind. Mr Brignal said that the welfare of the animals at his track was much better than perhaps the welfare of those at GBGB ones, because those were amateurs racing well-looked-after animals—they were like family pets and so on. However, at the licensed tracks in England, where a lot of money is involved, the dogs are more like commodities than pets.

Mr Brignal gave us his opinion that, in fact, the animals that race at his track are well kept at home. I challenged him and said that he did not really know whether that is the case.

You said that you had to go to a home address. What did you find, given that you mentioned that the bare-minimum standards had been met?

They are kennelled all the time.

How do the dogs get here? Is there an organisation that does that, or do individuals just get in touch with somebody to purchase them?

All the time? They get out for a little bit of exercise, toileting and so on and that is it?

However, given that that is the case, should we perhaps ask Mr Brignal to invite the Scottish SPCA to come out?

I want to follow up an issue. I am just searching the Official Report for evidence that was given by Paul Brignal, who is the proprietor of Thornton. He said:

“We would more than welcome the SSPCA if it wanted to come. In fact, we have written to Mike Flynn, saying, “You’ve had every opportunity to come and visit our track.” He eventually came to the track with Professor Dwyer. I do not think he was in any way concerned about anything that went on at the track”.—[Official Report, Rural Affairs and Islands Committee, 26 April 2023; c 50.]

Do you know anything about that?

Right.

Have you had any other issues with owners of greyhounds who race them in this amateur fashion at Thornton?

Perhaps there is confusion here rather than our being misled.