SECOND WEEKLY NATIONAL LOTTERY DRAW'S EFFECT ON GREYHOUND RACING

That this House expresses grave concern about the impact of a second weekly National Lottery draw on the greyhound racing betting industry and the consequences this will have for the sport of greyhound racing; notes that according to the Henley Centre four greyhound racing tracks have been in imminent danger of closure, attendances have fallen over a quarter, Government revenue by a third and industry profitability by 60 per cent. as a result of the introduction of the National Lottery: believes that a second weekly National Lottery draw with an expected increase in sales of up to 20 per cent. will have a further detrimental impact on the sport of greyhound racing and that whilst opportunities for gamblers have increased enormously in the last two years, greyhound racing has further declined; and calls upon Her Majesty's Government to take appropriate measures to reduce general betting duty and to ensure that the revenue accruing goes straight back to greyhound racing itself so that stadia and facilities as well as prize money can be upgraded for the benefit of owners, trainers and the racegoing public.