Meeting of the Parliament 18 March 2026 [Draft]
As the lead minister for the bill, I thank Mark Ruskell for his constructive and collaborative approach in bringing this important bill to the Parliament. A member’s bill does not reach this stage without a significant commitment and a great deal of effort. I know how much work Mr Ruskell has put into the bill throughout its stages in this parliamentary session. I commend the hard work undertaken by the Parliament’s non-Government bills unit in supporting Mr Ruskell with the bill, as well as that of my officials, the policy officials and all the parliamentary staff in getting us to this stage. I also thank the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee for its role in hearing evidence and producing helpful recommendations at stage 1, which we considered carefully. That process led to the changes that were made at stage 2 and to the creation of a bill that puts in place safeguards for the benefit of all greyhounds.
I remind the Parliament that, when the bill was first introduced, the Government adopted a neutral position. At that stage, the proposal sought to prohibit all greyhound racing in Scotland. The bill that is now at stage 3 is more focused in scope, in that it seeks specifically to prohibit the racing of greyhounds on oval tracks. Having carefully considered the evidence, the Scottish Government considers that the bill addresses the inherent welfare risks associated with running dogs at speed on oval tracks—risks that, even with good practice, cannot be eliminated. Therefore, the Government supports the bill.
As I stated previously, previous studies have shown that an oval track design is a key factor in injuries and deaths, due to the combination of bends and the speeds at which racing dogs enter the bends, and that those risks cannot be fully mitigated. Similar concerns are echoed by animal welfare organisations and veterinary reviews, which point to thousands of recorded injuries and numerous fatalities each year linked to the racing conditions internationally. Taken together, the evidence demonstrates that greyhound racing, as currently practised on oval tracks, exposes dogs to significant risks that cannot be eliminated by other measures. That gives me confidence that the bill is a rational and proportionate measure and that there is a sufficient welfare justification for supporting it.
As Mark Ruskell said, the Welsh Senedd last night passed its bill, which will implement a complete ban on greyhound racing in Wales. That shows that the issue is being discussed not just in Scotland but in many areas of the world. However, I stress that there are points of difference between the two bills, including the fact that the Welsh bill prohibits racing on all types of track, whereas the bill that we are considering is focused on oval tracks only, in response to the particular risks that are posed by such tracks.
We are very mindful of the implications for the individuals and communities that are connected with greyhound racing in Scotland—in particular, those who are involved with the Thornton track in Fife. I do not doubt the dedication and devotion of those people to their dogs, but the evidence shows the welfare case for banning racing on oval tracks. That is why we support the bill.
Deputy Presiding Officer, members’ bills such as this can—as you well know—achieve a great deal in the Parliament when people work together on important matters for the benefit of Scotland’s people, communities and, in this case, greyhounds.
I note that there is a lot of public support for the bill. A petition to ban greyhound racing is the most-signed petition in the Parliament’s history, and the Scottish Government therefore fully supports the bill.