Animal Welfare Bill

I am very grateful to the Minister for his response. I take the point that he would like the Defra working party to be able to continue its work. He and, I suspect, the rest of us, hope that it will be able to achieve its objectives through self-regulation. Perhaps I may add a rider. The Minister said that the Government might introduce codes of practice if they needed to do so by 2009. I was glad to hear him say that he would review that earlier. If we cannot find a solution that is satisfactory to us all, I will perhaps look on Report for some form of review system being put in place so that the whole issue is looked at. I do not want to take up every point that was made, but I am grateful to all noble Lords who spoke. My first foray into this issue was in 2001, when the noble Lord, Lord Lipsey, introduced a debate on greyhounds, in particular on their retirement. I am somewhat alarmed that even the National Greyhound Racing Club does not have figures about the number of dogs unaccounted for at the end. I would have thought that it should have that in its system. I hope we shall know a little more next time. On the question of unlicensed racing tracks, finding those figures would be very difficult. One does not know who is participating, how many dogs are running and how many dogs are no longer running at the end of the season. I remember that in 2001, we had a long debate about the possibility of rehoming some of those dogs. The noble Lord, Lord Lipsey, said again this evening that certain dogs cannot be rehomed and have to be put down. One must be realistic and accept that. Perhaps their experiences in the period when they were racing make them unsuitable. I am always delighted to hear that dogs are rehomed wherever possible. I am grateful to the Minister for his positive response. But there is work for the racing board between now and Report to try to bring us up to date and get that information to the Minister, who will, no doubt, search Defra’s experience. I am particularly concerned about unlicensed tracks. I shall not go through the detailed explanation that the noble Lord, Lord Lipsey, gave. I have never been to greyhound racing, but I would like to see it continue because it gives enormous pleasure to many people. A lot of people go along for the betting and perhaps it does not matter who is running—but that is an unfair side-swipe, although it is true. On the other hand, if we are to have animals racing—in this case, dogs, not horses—we want to ensure that standards of care on the track when they are racing, in getting there and in retirement are adequate, or better than adequate. The horse racing industry is heavily self-regulated. I know from people who have competed in one-day or three-day events that there are strict rules in the horse world about having vets and doctors present. I am grateful to all noble Lords who have spoken and to the Minister for his response. I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Clause 9 [Duty on persons responsible for animal to ensure welfare]: