Hansard

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 discussing which horses to put money on, but when I asked him who would be the likely leader of the SNP three years from now, he would not give me that bet. That was an interesting discussion.

One of the key definitions in sport is the Nice declaration, which recognises that sporting bodies must have some authority to establish what is appropriate for those sports, taking into account existing legislation and competition law. Over the next short period, we must try to identify how there can be compatibility between having the capacity to organise the racing calendar in an appropriate way and recognising the impact on competition.

Those issues have been thrown up dramatically by the OFT report. The British Horseracing Board has taken that into account and may modify some of its practices to address the concerns. However, we do not want to lose sight of the long-term strategy, which is about the economic infrastructure and the quality of the racing card. There can be a proliferation of races, but the races will not necessarily have long-term sustainability if there is no real interest in the quality of horses that are involved. Many members have touched on those matters.

At the level of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, my colleague Tessa Jowell has written to the Office of Fair Trading in the context of the ruling. I take on board some of the key comments that she made in that letter, some of which relate to points that have been made in the chamber this evening. If the Parliament feels that it is appropriate, I would be happy to raise those points directly with the Office of Fair Trading. We want to strike a balance between achieving a more market-orientated approach and ensuring that the ability of the BHB to manage the overall good of the sport is not compromised. I am happy to take on board those issues and to reflect some of the discussions that Dick Caborn had on the matter earlier this month.

Members have mentioned many other local interests in the debate. I noted with interest that Michael McMahon mentioned the battle of Bothwell bridge, which involved the covenanters on horses. There is no truth in the rumour that the escape strategy for the battle of the Bothwell Bridge Hotel involved Barry Ferguson escaping on a white horse. I will leave that to members' imagination.

We must recognise that we can grow the sector. When racecourses—I spoke earlier today to the general manager of Musselburgh racecourse—were asked about the issue by the OFT, many suggested in their submissions that they could grow and stated they would like to have a wider race card. However, I do not think that their conclusions would have been what the OFT has recommended. We have to find a way of matching the aspiration of the racecourses with competition law. That is an important issue that we can address.

We must try to develop much more effectively the quality and range of facilities. A number of members have raised that issue competently in the debate. I will not echo what they have said, but I will say that there is an inextricable link between the quality of the infrastructure and the quality of the race output. I am happy to enter discussions with my colleagues within horse racing in Scotland to ensure that we develop the infrastructure more effectively.

These matters are reserved, so we must tread carefully with regard to some elements of the debate, but I will be happy to take on board some of the points that members have raised. Dick Caborn has offered to hear the views that have been expressed in the Scottish Parliament.

More important, I hope that the people who are in the public gallery recognise that this is an opportunity for the Scottish Parliament to do things in a small way to showcase and identify issues that perhaps would not have had the chance to be raised under any previous political structure. I hope that that will enable us to achieve a result—if we want to use a metaphor related to racing—that is sustainable in the long term and genuinely makes a difference.

I am happy to conclude with those remarks. I recognise the value of the contribution that has been made by members and, in particular, I congratulate Susan Deacon on raising the matter. I hope that we can take up the issues and achieve an outcome that respects the integrity of competition law, but, more important, respects and sustains the Scottish racing industry for the future so that we can grow that industry for our communities throughout Scotland.