Mark Ruskell MSP has introduced this Member’s Bill. It aims to make Greyhound racing illegal in Scotland.
This is a Member's bill
The Bill was introduced on 23 April 2025 and is at Stage 2
This Bill is at Stage 2 of the process to decide if it should become an Act.
The Bill will make it illegal for someone who owns, or is responsible for, a greyhound or a racetrack, to race, or allow the racing of, a greyhound on an oval racetrack in Scotland.
Most tracks used for greyhound racing are oval in shape. The Bill also allows the Scottish Government to regulate to make it illegal to race greyhounds on other types of tracks. For example, this could include making it illegal to race greyhounds on a straight track.
If someone is convicted of an offence under the terms of the Bill they may be subject to a fine or prison sentence. The court may also impose other penalties. These include:
Mark Ruskell considers that there is an inherent, evidence-based, risk of injury or fatality to greyhounds involved in racing on oval racetracks.
He believes that existing animal welfare measures have not sufficiently protected racing greyhounds from harm.
His view is that the Bill will protect and improve the health and wellbeing of greyhounds in Scotland.
Greyhound Racing (Offences) (Scotland) Bill as introduced (864KB, pdf) posted 23 April 2025
Explanatory Notes (187KB, pdf) posted 23 April 2025
Policy Memorandum (250KB, pdf) posted 23 April 2025
Financial Memorandum (208KB, pdf) posted 23 April 2025
Delegated Powers Memorandum (141KB, pdf) posted 23 April 2025
Statements on legislative competence (109KB, pdf) posted 23 April 2025
Explanatory Notes (246KB, pdf) posted 23 April 2025
Policy Memorandum (325KB, pdf) posted 23 April 2025
Financial Memorandum (275KB, pdf) posted 23 April 2025
Delegated Powers Memorandum (208KB, pdf) posted 23 April 2025
Statements on legislative competence (162KB, pdf) posted 23 April 2025
All Bills introduced in the Parliament must be accompanied by specific documents. For most Bills, this includes:
Explanatory Notes: this document provides an overview of what the Bill does, plus a more detailed explanation of individual provisions.
Policy Memorandum: this sets out the objectives of the Bill. It also lists any alternatives considered, details of consultations, and an assessment of the effects of the Bill on a range of areas.
Financial Memorandum: this sets out estimates of costs, savings, and any changes to revenues expected to result from the Bill.
Delegated Powers Memorandum: this is needed if a Bill gives powers to make subordinate legislation or allows Scottish Ministers to issue directions, guidance or codes of practice.
Statements on legislative competence: two short statements, one by the Presiding Officer and one by the Member introducing the Bill. “Legislative competence” means the powers the Parliament has to make law.
The Presiding Officer has decided under Rule 9.12 of Standing Orders that a financial resolution is not required for this Bill.
For each Bill, the Presiding Officer must decide if a 'Financial Resolution' is required. The main reasons a Bill would need a Financial Resolution are that:
If a Bill requires a Financial Resolution:
The Scottish Parliament's Information Centre (SPICe) prepares impartial research and analysis to assist MSPs in their examination of Bills and other parliamentary business.
Research briefing on the Greyhound Racing (Offences) (Scotland) Bill
The Bill was introduced on 23 April 2025
At Stage 1, the Bill is given to a lead committee. This is usually the committee whose remit most closely relates to the subject of the Bill. The lead committee will consider and report on the Bill. Other committees may also examine the Bill and report to the lead committee. Finally, there is a debate and vote by all MSPs on the general principles of the Bill. If the general principles are not agreed to, then the Bill ‘falls’ and can’t become law.
On 26 November 2025, Parliament agreed motion S6M-19922, that consideration of the Greyhound Racing (Offences) (Scotland) Bill at Stage 1 be completed by 30 January 2026.
The lead committee for this Bill is the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee.
The lead committee will usually examine the Bill through evidence sessions. This will involve contributions from individuals and organisations, known as 'witnesses', with knowledge of the subject matter. The committee might also discuss the Bill in private sessions.
The Rural Affairs and Islands Committee held a targeted call for views to help inform its examination of the Bill.
Read the responses to the call for views
The call for views closed on 10 October 2025.
Read the SPICe summary of responses (296KB, pdf) posted 30 October 2025
Read the Official Report of the meeting
Read the Official Report of the meeting
Letter from the Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity, 28 January 2026
Joint letter from stakeholders, 20 November 2025
Letter from the Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity, 17 November 2025
Letter from the Greyhound Board of Great Britain, 14 November 2025
Letter from the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission, 5 November 2025
See a full list of Stage 1 correspondence for this committee
The Rural Affairs and Islands Committee published its report on 22 January 2026.
Greyhound Racing (Offences) (Scotland) Bill Stage 1 report
The Committee received the following response to its report:
Letter from the Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity, 28 January 2026 (193KB, pdf) posted 29 January 2026
If a Bill is relevant to more than one committee, 'secondary committees' may consider and report on the general principles of the Bill to the lead committee. Some Bills may also be considered by the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee or the Finance and Public Administration Committee.
The Committee published its report on 25 June 2025.
Read the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee's report at Stage 1
A Stage 1 debate took place on 29 January 2026 to consider and decide on the general principles of the Bill.
Read the minutes of proceedings (226KB, pdf) posted 29 January 2026
Result 69 for, 27 against, 19 abstained, 14 did not vote Agreed
See further details of the motion
The Bill ended Stage 1 on 29 January 2026
At Stage 2, MSPs can propose changes to a Bill. These are called 'amendments'. Any MSP can suggest amendments but only members of the Stage 2 committee can decide on them.
MSPs can currently submit amendments ("changes") to the Bill. A daily list of amendments will be published each day that amendments are lodged or withdrawn by MSPs. Following the deadline for amendments, the Marshalled List and Groupings of Amendments will be published to replace the daily lists.
The deadline for MSPs to submit amendments is 12 noon on Thursday 12 February.
Documents with the amendments to be considered and debated at the meeting held on 18 February 2026.
Marshalled List of Amendments for Stage 2 will be published before the meeting.
Groupings of Amendments for Stage 2 will be published before the meeting.
A Stage 2 'Marshalled List' is a list of all the amendments that have been lodged at Stage 2 (or, if the Stage is mid-way through, all those still to be dealt with). They are listed in the order in which they will be called by the convener and then decided on.
A 'Groupings' list shows how the amendments that are listed in the Marshalled List have been grouped together for debate. Each group contains amendments that are related to each other, even if they are at different places in the Marshalled List.