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1149359

	registered interest
	date	15/10/2019
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Horse Racing: Animal Welfare
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with the British Horseracing Authority on changes to reduce the death rate of horses.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
	tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
	uin	483
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/10/2019 answer text <p>I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given to the Hon. Member for Slough on 4 July 2019, <a href="https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2019-06-11/263251/" target="_blank">PQ 263251</a>. Since then Defra officials have met the British Horseracing Authority and will continue to do so, to ensure actions to improve horserace welfare are maintained.</p> answering member constituency Richmond Park answering member printed Zac Goldsmith question first answered 21/10/2019 15:15:43 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
	tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1151433

	registered interest
	date	22/10/2019
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Horse Racing: Animal Welfare
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent comparative assessment she has made of the number of racehorse fatalities (a) in the first nine months of 2019 and (b) in the same period in 2018; what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the British Horseracing Authority in reducing annual levels of racehorse fatalities; and with reference to the Answer of 16 April 2019 to Question 242198 on Horse Racing: Animal Welfare, what recent discussions officials in her Department have had with the British Horseracing Authority.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
	tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
	uin	3670
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/10/2019 answer text <p>The official annual statistics on fatality rates are published on the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) website, in an approach endorsed by the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee. We would expect the fatality rates for 2019 to be published by BHA in the New Year. Officials regularly meet with a wide range of stakeholders, including the BHA.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Richmond Park answering member printed Zac Goldsmith question first answered 30/10/2019 14:08:57 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
	tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1151434

	registered interest
	date	22/10/2019
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Horse Racing: Animal Welfare
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make it her policy to set up new independent welfare body to protect race horses from abuse.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
	tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
	uin	3671
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/10/2019 answer text <p>The Horse Welfare Board (HWB) was formed in March 2019 and is currently developing a comprehensive equine welfare strategy, covering the whole life of the racehorse, which will be published in the coming months. The Government will stay in regular contact with the industry and the new HWB. We will continue to press them for improvements in racehorse welfare and a reduction in the number of fatalities.</p> answering member constituency Richmond Park answering member printed Zac Goldsmith question first answered 30/10/2019 14:05:41 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
	tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1167704

	registered interest
	date	31/10/2019
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Horse Racing: Animal Welfare
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to reduce the number of horses dying as a result of horse racing.
	tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Edgbaston
	tabling member printed	Preet Kaur Gill
	uin	8292
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/11/2019 answer text <p>I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given to same question from the Hon. Member for Luton South on 10<sup>th</sup> June 2019 (<a href="https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2019-05-22/257574/" target="_blank">PQ 257574</a>). The Government’s position remains the same.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Richmond Park answering member printed Zac Goldsmith question first answered 05/11/2019 17:07:17 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
	tabling member	4603 label Biography information for Preet Kaur Gill

1169951

	registered interest
	date	10/01/2020
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Horse Racing: Animal Welfare
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of banning the use of the whip in horse racing.
	tabling member constituency	Ealing Central and Acton
	tabling member printed	Dr Rupa Huq
	uin	1916
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/01/2020 answer text <p>Defra is keen to ensure that we uphold our high standards of animal welfare including in relation to horseracing. Irresponsible use of the whip is completely unacceptable.</p><p> </p><p>The British Horseracing Association (BHA) requires that whips be used responsibly and jockeys may only use the whip within certain strict rules. The BHA policy on the whip was drawn up in consultation with animal welfare groups, such as the RSPCA and World Horse Welfare and is published on the BHA website. The latest rules include a threshold on the number of times the whip can be used before racing stewards can consider an inquiry. If the rules are broken, the jockey may be banned from racing for a certain number of days depending on the seriousness of the offence. Stewards also have the ability to impose a fine on a rider between £200 and £10,000.</p><p> </p><p>In addition to sanctions from the sport, using the whip indiscriminately on a horse could be a criminal offence under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.</p><p> </p><p>Defra is satisfied that the laws and rules in place are sufficient to restrict and limit the use of the whip in horse racing.</p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 20/01/2020 11:32:10 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
	tabling member	4511 label Biography information for Dr Rupa Huq

1172333

	registered interest
	date	21/01/2020
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Horse Racing: Animal Welfare
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent representations officials in her Department have made to the British Horseracing Authority on banning the use of the whip in horseracing.
	tabling member constituency	Islwyn
	tabling member printed	Chris Evans
	uin	6091
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/01/2020 answer text <p>I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Ealing Central and Acton, Dr Rupa Huq, on 20 January 2020 PQ 1916.</p><p> </p><p>Defra officials are in regular dialogue with the British Horseracing Authority to discuss the safety and welfare of racehorses and will continue to work with the industry to safeguard horse welfare.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 28/01/2020 11:24:25 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
	tabling member	4040 label Biography information for Chris Evans

1179565

	registered interest
	date	21/02/2020
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Horse Racing: Animal Welfare
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the recommendations in the Horse Welfare Board's five year horse welfare strategy on the use of the whip in horse racing.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow North
	tabling member printed	Patrick Grady
	uin	18846
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/02/2020 answer text <p>The Horse Welfare Board’s (HWB) five-year Horse Welfare Strategy (HWS) “a life well-lived” was published on 20 February 2020. The HWS contains 20 recommendations for improving horse welfare. The HWS recommends that, as a minimum, the penalties for misuse of the whip need to increase and that the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) should conduct a consultation on the use of the whip this year. As well as seeking views on appropriate sanctions for misuse of the whip, the HWS also recommends that the BHA uses the consultation to consider whether the use of the whip for encouragement should be banned or retained and whether the rules that restrict the use of the whip for encouragement need to be changed. Defra welcomes the publication of the HWS and officials will remain engaged with the BHA and the HWB on the progress being made.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 26/02/2020 17:57:33 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	4432 label Biography information for Patrick Grady

1184368

	registered interest
	date	11/03/2020
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Horse Racing: Animal Welfare
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the British Horseracing Authority on that organisation's consultation on the rules and penalties for misuse of a whip in racing; and whether that consultation will follow Government principles for consultations.
	tabling member constituency	Islwyn
	tabling member printed	Chris Evans
	uin	28039
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/03/2020 answer text <p>Defra officials have regular discussions with the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), including recently on its Horse Welfare Board’s five-year Horse Welfare Strategy “A life well-lived”. The Strategy recommends that the BHA should consult as soon as possible and ideally by October 2020 on increased penalties for whip offences. The Strategy also recommends that this consultation should gather views on future restrictions on whip use and on a possible ban. As part of ongoing regular discussions, Defra officials will be advising the BHA about how to follow Government principles for conducting consultations, and Defra will be taking a close interest in how this progresses.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 19/03/2020 17:28:14 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	4040 label Biography information for Chris Evans

1203810

	registered interest
	date	15/06/2020
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Horse Racing: Animal Welfare
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of establishing an independent body to protect racehorse welfare.
	tabling member constituency	Arfon
	tabling member printed	Hywel Williams
	uin	59377
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/06/2020 answer text <p>More must be done to improve racehorse safety and welfare. Officials have been in regular dialogue with the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), British racing's governing and regulatory body, about the safety and welfare of racehorses, and to understand what the industry is doing to reduce the number of fatalities. The Government welcomed the creation of the racing industry's Horse Welfare Board, which was formed in March 2019 and includes members from across the racing industry, veterinarians and animal health and welfare experts.</p><p> </p><p>The Board is committed to doing all it can to make the sport safer and we have welcomed the publication of the Board's five-year horse welfare strategy &quot;A life well lived&quot;. The strategy contains 20 recommendations for the industry aimed at ensuring the best possible safety and quality of life for racehorses.</p><p> </p><p>Whilst the Government does not consider it would be appropriate at this stage to appoint an independent body for racehorse welfare, my officials remain in regular contact with the industry and the Horse Welfare Board. We will be monitoring closely how the industry responds to the Board's recommendations so that the welfare needs of racehorses are met both during and after their racing lives.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 18/06/2020 16:44:11 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	1397 label Biography information for Hywel Williams

1300113

	registered interest
	date	08/03/2021
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Horse Racing: Animal Welfare
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many horses in the racing industry have died in training, as opposed to on course as a result of racing, in the UK in each of the last five years; and what the (a) ages of those horses and (b) causes of death were.
	tabling member constituency	East Lothian
	tabling member printed	Kenny MacAskill
	uin	164632
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/03/2021 answer text <p>Ensuring the welfare needs of racehorses are well met, both during their racing lives and afterwards is a priority. The British Horseracing Authority (BHA), British racing’s governing and regulatory body, is responsible for the safety of racehorses at British racecourses. The BHA works alongside the RSPCA and World Horse Welfare to make horseracing as safe as possible.</p><p>The Government welcomed the creation of the racing industry’s Horse Welfare Board (HWB), which was formed in March 2019. The Board is chaired by Barry Johnson, former President of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (who is independent of the BHA) and includes members from across the racing industry, veterinarians and animal health and welfare experts. The Board has assured Defra that it is committed to doing all it can to make the sport safer and improve welfare outcomes. The HWB published its five-year horse welfare strategy “A life well lived” last year:</p><p><a href="http://media.britishhorseracing.com/bha/Welfare/HWB/WELFARE_STRATEGY.pdf" target="_blank">http://media.britishhorseracing.com/bha/Welfare/HWB/WELFARE_STRATEGY.pdf</a>.</p><p>The strategy contains 20 recommendations for the industry aimed at ensuring the best possible safety and quality of life for racehorses.</p><p>One of the plan’s five identified outcomes (outcome 3 - 'Best possible safety') aims to reduce and minimise, as far as reasonably possible, avoidable injuries and fatalities to racehorses. This targets a reduction in injuries and fatalities on racecourses but also those that occur in, or as a result of, training or pre-training methods, or which are linked to breeding. The HWB has underlined the importance of data to better understand the causes of injuries and fatalities to help achieve this outcome.</p><p> </p><p>Defra does not hold any information related to racehorse fatalities including those that have occurred during training. However, as well as collating and publishing data on racing fatalities, the BHA, following the recommendations contained within the HWB’s strategy, is working to improve data gathering in relation to thoroughbred racehorse fatalities in training. This includes analysis of data and reporting mechanisms which already exist regarding horses in training, and how these can be improved to provide additional data on fatal injuries.</p><p> </p><p>The Secretary of State has not met representatives of either the BHA or the HWB between 2019 and now. I can confirm that the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at that time met with the BHA’s Director of Equine Health and the HWB’s Independent Chair in May 2019 where both sides agreed that further action was required to make the sport safer and to improve animal welfare standards across the industry. My officials plan to meet with the BHA in due course and will continue to engage with the sector to ensure that the welfare of racehorses, and reducing the fatalities and injuries that result from racing, remain at the forefront of the BHA’s priorities in delivering the plan’s outcomes.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis grouped question UIN 164633 164635 164636 question first answered 11/03/2021 16:58:17 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	4772 label Biography information for Kenny MacAskill