Chamber
Plenary, 08 Jan 2004
08 Jan 2004 · S2 · Plenary
Item of business
Horse Racing Industry
I add to those of other members my congratulations to Susan Deacon on securing this debate. I express my appreciation to the minister for allowing me to say a few words as a constituency member.
I live about a mile from Kelso racecourse, which is featured in the motion. There has been a racecourse in Kelso since 1777, and it moved to its present position—north of the centre of the town—in 1822. It is a valuable local asset that provides a lot of sport, entertainment and employment for the local community. There are five to six full-time employees on the course and I understand that on race days 170 casual employees come to ensure that visitors have a grand day out, and that 25 employees are on the course on the day before and the day after each race day.
The racecourse attracts 40,000 visitors each year, which is of tremendous benefit to the local economy. Indeed, the television coverage is a good way of putting the Borders and Kelso—my home town—in the shop window, as it were. Not only do we get 40,000 visitors to the racecourse, but the added recognition that Kelso gets as a result of the racecourse's being there brings other visitors in, which is of immense benefit to the town.
The racecourse has done an awful lot recently. About £1.5 million has gone into two new grandstands, which are fine additions to the course. There are still some problems, however—access is not good and it would be helpful if there was a landing strip for small fixed-wing aircraft to come to the course. Those additions would be valuable locally, and would stimulate greater development on the course.
The catchment area, which includes the Borders and north Northumberland, comprises about 200,000 racegoers. In fact, the business is run from Wooler in north Northumberland, which is just a few miles from Kelso.
There is no doubt that the racecourse has a significant positive economic impact on Kelso. We are grateful for the efforts that the racecourse company puts into delivering those benefits, and for the recreational sporting opportunities that it ensures. It is also relevant to say that the racecourse is part of what might be described as the Borders' equine culture, in which we have point-to-points, summer festivals and common ridings.
Along with other members, I think that the free-for-all that the OFT report suggests would not be a good idea; indeed, it would be particularly damaging for the smallest courses, such as Kelso. Therefore, I hope that the minister will take on board members' views and use them in discussions with his colleagues in Westminster.
Many years ago, I made my first on-course bet at Kelso, on a horse with the unlikely name of Dobbin, which came in some 20 lengths ahead of the rest of the field. I sincerely hope that, for generations to come, people will be able to watch a Dobbin or a Nijinsky—or their heirs and successors—at the Kelso course, which is of immense benefit to the local community.
I live about a mile from Kelso racecourse, which is featured in the motion. There has been a racecourse in Kelso since 1777, and it moved to its present position—north of the centre of the town—in 1822. It is a valuable local asset that provides a lot of sport, entertainment and employment for the local community. There are five to six full-time employees on the course and I understand that on race days 170 casual employees come to ensure that visitors have a grand day out, and that 25 employees are on the course on the day before and the day after each race day.
The racecourse attracts 40,000 visitors each year, which is of tremendous benefit to the local economy. Indeed, the television coverage is a good way of putting the Borders and Kelso—my home town—in the shop window, as it were. Not only do we get 40,000 visitors to the racecourse, but the added recognition that Kelso gets as a result of the racecourse's being there brings other visitors in, which is of immense benefit to the town.
The racecourse has done an awful lot recently. About £1.5 million has gone into two new grandstands, which are fine additions to the course. There are still some problems, however—access is not good and it would be helpful if there was a landing strip for small fixed-wing aircraft to come to the course. Those additions would be valuable locally, and would stimulate greater development on the course.
The catchment area, which includes the Borders and north Northumberland, comprises about 200,000 racegoers. In fact, the business is run from Wooler in north Northumberland, which is just a few miles from Kelso.
There is no doubt that the racecourse has a significant positive economic impact on Kelso. We are grateful for the efforts that the racecourse company puts into delivering those benefits, and for the recreational sporting opportunities that it ensures. It is also relevant to say that the racecourse is part of what might be described as the Borders' equine culture, in which we have point-to-points, summer festivals and common ridings.
Along with other members, I think that the free-for-all that the OFT report suggests would not be a good idea; indeed, it would be particularly damaging for the smallest courses, such as Kelso. Therefore, I hope that the minister will take on board members' views and use them in discussions with his colleagues in Westminster.
Many years ago, I made my first on-course bet at Kelso, on a horse with the unlikely name of Dobbin, which came in some 20 lengths ahead of the rest of the field. I sincerely hope that, for generations to come, people will be able to watch a Dobbin or a Nijinsky—or their heirs and successors—at the Kelso course, which is of immense benefit to the local community.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Trish Godman):
Lab
The final item of business is a members' business debate on motion S2M-474, in the name of Susan Deacon, on the horse racing industry in Scotland.
Motion debated,
That the Parliament recognises the significant contribution that the horse racing industry makes to the economy, generating up to £125 million annually and p...
Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab):
Lab
I am sure that some members, when they were recovering from their mince pies and turkey, might have settled down at Christmas time to watch "The Great Escape...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
Lab
A significant number of members want to take part in the debate, so I am moving the time for speeches to four minutes.
John Scott (Ayr) (Con):
Con
I congratulate Susan Deacon on securing today's important debate. It is important that the issues surrounding racing are debated here in the Parliament becau...
Michael McMahon (Hamilton North and Bellshill) (Lab):
Lab
I join John Scott in congratulating Susan Deacon on securing this evening's debate. Members' business debates are of vital importance to the work of MSPs in ...
Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
First of all, I want to join in the chorus of appreciation to Susan Deacon for securing this afternoon's debate and for her eloquent introductory speech. The...
Mr John Home Robertson (East Lothian) (Lab):
Lab
I join colleagues from all parties in congratulating Susan Deacon on securing this very important debate. Indeed, the debate must be important, because this ...
Colin Fox (Lothians) (SSP):
SSP
Like other members, I welcome the debate and congratulate Susan Deacon on her motion. I knew that a day would come when spending my teenage years in the book...
Euan Robson (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (LD):
LD
I add to those of other members my congratulations to Susan Deacon on securing this debate. I express my appreciation to the minister for allowing me to say ...
Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab):
Lab
I do not have a direct constituency interest in horse racing—although there are many horses in my constituency, including some extremely successful racehorse...
Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP):
SNP
Does the member agree that George Orwell was right when he said in "Animal Farm","Four legs good, two legs bad"?
Dr Murray:
Lab
I think that that depends on the two legs.At present, equestrian sports and physical activities face some significant barriers. Although this evening's debat...
Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con):
Con
I commend Susan Deacon for her motion, which I was happy to sign, and I congratulate her on securing the debate.Four of the five Scottish racecourses have be...
The Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport (Mr Frank McAveety):
Lab
As other members have done, I welcome the debate and congratulate Susan Deacon on bringing it to the chamber. The debate springs from a discussion that we ha...
Stewart Stevenson rose—
SNP
Mr McAveety:
Lab
I see Stewart Stevenson rising to intervene. I shall accept his intervention, but I hope that it will not be about the George Orwell book that has now been c...
Stewart Stevenson:
SNP
I am probably the member who has least connection with racing, but I have a powerful advocate of racing as one of my constituents and he used to speak here o...
Mr McAveety:
Lab
Funnily enough, I was just coming to the ghost of Christmas past. I am reminded of a discussion that I had at Musselburgh with Alex Salmond. We were discussi...
Meeting closed at 18:03.