HC Deb 26 November 1991 vol 199 cc439-40W
Mr. Meale

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ask the Office of Fair Trading to consider the competitive aspects of bookmaker-owned greyhound tracks supplying races to the bookmaker afternoon greyhound service.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

No. Anyone who believes that they have evidence of anti-competitive behaviour should report the matter to the Office of Fair Trading.

Mr. Meale

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will bring forward proposals for legislation to put greyhound racing on a par with horse racing; and what plans he has to treat the two industries equally, with regard to off-course betting.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

The Government's views on the need for legislation to amend the law on betting on greyhound racing were set out in our recent reply—Cm 1757—to the Home Affairs Committee's report "Financing of Greyhound Racing"—HC 463.

Mr. Meale

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the statutes which control the staging of greyhound racing, greyhound totalisators and on-course betting on greyhound tracks.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

The statutory controls on betting at greyhound tracks are contained in the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Act 1963, as amended. Further regulations governing the operation of totalisators at greyhound tracks are contained in two statutory instruments made under the 1963 Act. These are the Dog Racecourse Totalisator Regulations 1967, as amended, and the Dog Racecourse Totalisator (Percentage) Order 1980. The Dog Racecourse Totalisator (Percentage) Order 1991 was published on 22 November, and comes into force on 20 December.

Mr. Meale

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Office of Fair Trading considered the competitive aspects of bookmaker-owned greyhound tracks supplying racing to the bookmaker afternoon greyhound service; how long the inquiry took; and who supplied information to the inquiry.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

I understand that the Office of Fair Trading's informal inquiries are made under section 2(2) of the Fair Trading Act 1973, which imposes on the Director-General of Fair Trading a duty to keep commercial activities under review and to collect information with a view to his becoming aware of monopoly situations or uncompetitive practices. The OFT has considered whether the ownership of greyhound tracks by off-course bookmakers raises concerns under the competition legislation, but to date no evidence has been received to suggest formal action is warranted. Details of information collected by the OFT are subject to confidentiality requirements, particularly section 133 of the Fair Trading Act 1973, and cannot therefore be disclosed.