7. Whether she has had recent discussions with the Welsh Government on plans to ban greyhound racing in Wales. - Labour has long been committed to animal welfare. Indeed, it was my privilege under the previous Labour Government to serve on the Committee for the Bill that became the Animal Welfare Act 2006. In our 2024 manifesto, we committed to further improve animal welfare, including ending puppy smuggling. This particular issue is devolved to the Welsh Government.
- I thank the Minister for her response. I am incredibly passionate about animal welfare—I have a dog and a cat—and for the most part we are an animal-loving country. That is why I find it so shocking that we still have practices such as greyhound racing that treat animals as disposable. If they do not run fast enough or if they get injured, they get binned off. Some of them are still spending 80% of their life in kennels. Will the Minister meet me to discuss this issue further?
- I would be happy to meet my hon. Friend.