Chamber and committees

Do you think that it is an issue, though? I know that you guys are saying that you are not involved, but do you think that it is an issue in GBGB greyhound racing?

As there are no further questions, I thank George Stark and Daniel Alcorn. We have kept you longer than we intended, but that reflects our interest. Thank you very much for your comprehensive answers, which have been most helpful. As I said, we will return to the issue with the minister in May.

That concludes our business in public.

Good morning, and welcome to the ninth meeting in 2024 of the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee. I ask everyone to switch their electronic devices to silent.

We begin with consideration of an affirmative Scottish statutory instrument. I welcome Lorna Slater, the Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity, and her officials: John Speirs, senior policy adviser, and Emily Williams Boylston, a solicitor from the Scottish Government.

I invite the minister to make an opening statement.

As no member wishes to debate the motion, is the committee content to recommend approval of the instrument?

Members indicated agreement.

That completes our consideration of the instrument. I thank the minister and her officials for attending. I will suspend the meeting briefly to allow a changeover of witnesses.

You did not have any involvement with Shawfield. Did you say that you have raced at the Newcastle and Sunderland tracks?

Is it fairly well regulated? Does GBGB come in and check that you are abiding by its standards and conditions—that the kennels are kept in a certain way, the dogs are given enough exercise and whatever?

On the back of Alasdair Allan’s question, I note that, although the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission has highlighted “specific risks” of racing on independent tracks where there is no regulation, it has also said that

“the ... impact of racing on dogs racing on independent tracks is unknown.”

Is there any more risk to dogs running at an unlicensed track such as Thornton than there would be at a GBGB track?

Rachael Hamilton referred to the Greyhound Board of Great Britain and its plans to set up an assured breeders scheme. It sounds as though you are probably doing most of the things that an assured breeders scheme would do—you try to find out that the dogs are from a good home, and whatever. Would you welcome such a scheme? You guys are doing the right thing, but you have always said that there are some bad actors who might not be following the rules. Would you welcome an assured breeders scheme that would allow people to be part of the GBGB racing circuit, if you like?

I will bring in Mark Ruskell to ask some questions.