Chamber and committees

Thank you for that, Jessie.

I am grateful for the opportunity to speak in today’s debate on the future of greyhound racing in Scotland, and I thank Mark Ruskell for bringing the motion before the chamber.

Dogs, in all shapes and sizes, are loving members of our families, not only in Scotland, but across the globe, so protecting their safety and overall welfare is vital.

It is clear that greyhound racing in Scotland has been in decline for years. As the dog-racing industry boomed across the west of Scotland throughout the early to mid-20th century, thousands of Scots flocked to packed stadiums each week to spectate at the races under the floodlights. It became a core leisure activity for many communities across the country, because it offered escapism, a night out with friends and the chance to win some money.

However, that was then, and this is now. Today, since the popularity of greyhound racing has faded, as we have heard, only two tracks remain. One of them is Shawfield stadium, in my parliamentary region, and the other, which is what is known as a flapper track, is at Thornton, where regulations are pretty loose.

In collaboration with animal welfare charities across the country, I acknowledge the positive work that is undertaken by people in the industry, such as the Greyhound Board of Great Britain, to improve conditions for racing dogs. However, despite those efforts, glaring issues remain—in particular, the scope and robustness of the regulation that is in place to protect the welfare of dogs on and off the track. Data shows that, from 2017 to the present, more than 22,000 injuries to racing dogs have been recorded in the UK. That is a staggering number. Like many people, I have seen at first hand the awful injuries that these graceful dogs have suffered, including limbs that are so badly injured that vets are left with no option but to amputate. Heartbreakingly, over the same period, at least 1,000 dogs lost their lives through racing.

With the industry in decline, leading animal welfare groups, such as Blue Cross and Dogs Trust, have called for a phased end to greyhound racing in Scotland and the UK. As we discuss whether the industry has a future in 21st century Scotland, we cannot lose sight of the important matters that need to be considered—not least how to support the livelihoods of people who are engaged in the sector.

However, one thing is clear: the safety and welfare of greyhounds are paramount. On that note, I pay tribute to the fantastic work that Scotland’s rescue centres do in caring for and rehoming retired racing dogs. Dedicated volunteers across the country play a vital role in safeguarding the welfare of thousands of retired greyhounds, many of which have spent years on the race track. I know this at first hand because a member of my parliamentary staff adopted a particularly cheeky and playful greyhound named Todd, who, when he stands on his back legs, is way taller than I am. Most dogs are—even Ruth Maguire’s dachshund would probably be taller than me. Todd quickly became a much-loved and cherished part of the family.

As I bring my remarks to a close, I appeal to people who are considering getting a pet. By adopting a greyhound, not only would they be bringing a special and gentle dog into their family, but they would be giving a retired greyhound a home—a place where the dog will be loved and cared for, not because of how fast it can run, but for who it is. [Applause.]

I have one more question. How successful has the rent pressure zones legislation been for councils?

Good morning, minister. I have heard my colleague Jamie Greene speaking about housing associations not being able to increase rents and maybe having to stop maintenance or modernisation programmes. What conversations have you had about that? Like Jamie Greene, I am aware of this; my mum is a housing association tenant, too, and she is worried about whether her rewiring will be done and stuff like that. How can we give people confidence that these things will still go ahead?

Good morning, cabinet secretary. The committee heard from the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations on the need to progress with the review of “Housing for Varying Needs: a design guide”, which has been in place for more than 20 years. Will you update the committee on progress with the review and comment on how it might help to address the delivery of homes for those with particular needs?

That is great. Thank you very much. I have one more question, convener.

Given the emphasis on placemaking in the draft national planning framework 4, how are you making sure that the new homes that are approved through the affordable housing supply programme contribute to those aims?

Thank you, convener, and thank you to the panel for joining us today. I have a few questions to ask. I will try to make them as simple as I can and not too wordy. What are the main causes of the skill shortages within councils? What are the impacts of those shortages and how are councils attempting to address them? Is there any evidence of services being significantly reduced or changed as a result of staff shortages?

Thanks very much. The pandemic has made workforce planning more difficult and more necessary. Do any of the other witnesses that want to come back on that?

That has answered quite a few of my questions, so thank you very much for that, but I do have another question to ask. With the evidence of higher staff absence levels and some degree of burnout, how are councils attempting to improve staff wellbeing and promote fair work?

Thank you, Carol. Thanks, convener, that is me done.