§ 13. Sir Michael NeubertTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received on the subject of the funding of greyhound racing.
§ The Minister of State, Home Department (Mr. Peter Lloyd)I have received a number of letters recently, and on 28 October I met representatives of the British Greyhound Racing Board. Following that meeting, further discussions between the bookmaking and greyhound racing industries have taken place. I understand that agreement has now been reached on the establishment of a joint body for 406 distributing the money accruing from the reduction in general betting duty announced by the Chancellor in this year's Budget.
§ Sir Michael NeubertDoes my hon. Friend agree that eight months from the Chancellor's announcement of the year-long ¼ per cent. reduction in betting duty is long enough for the greyhound racing industry to wait for the bookmakers to come up with the 3 million smackers reckoned to be their due? What further part can my hon. Friend play in bringing the matter to a speedy conclusion?
§ Mr. LloydThe Government's role is to give encouragement to both parties to reach sensible arrangements. What they agree is up to them. I congratulate both parties, as both have made concessions in these discussions. They now have an arrangement. I hope that it will work very well and that the money will be used effectively in the dog racing industry, as the Chancellor intended.