Oral Answers to Questions

Conor McGinn Excerpts

Thursday 23rd May 2019 Commons Chamber

The Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport was asked—

[Conor McGinn (St Helens North) (Lab)]

1. What assessment he has made of the contribution of horse-racing to (a) social, (b) cultural and (c) economic life. [R]

[The Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (Jeremy Wright)]

Our world leading horse-racing industry employs over 17,000 people and contributes around £3.5 billion to rural economies across Britain each year. The Government support British racing, and our reforms to the horse-race betting levy have established a firm financial basis to support the sport.

[Conor McGinn]

I am very proud to be the joint chairman of the all-party parliamentary racing and bloodstock industries group. Like many Members across the House, I strongly support our fantastic sport and our fantastic British horse-racing industry, but the sport does face challenges. Given that the yield from the levy is £17 million less than forecast, what measures will the Secretary of State and the Government take, working with British horse-racing to ensure its long-term financial sustainability?

[Jeremy Wright]

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman, not just for what he says, but also for the valuable work he does with the APPG to support the industry. He is right that the levy receipts this year will be lower than expected, but he will recognise that there was a very substantial increase last year because the Government reformed the levy in order to bring offshore bookmakers into scope. That was an important change to give the industry a broader and more substantial financial base. We will look at future changes to the levy that may be appropriate to deal with any change in circumstances, but it is right to allow the substantial changes that we made last year to bed in. We will of course discuss with the hon. Gentleman and the APPG what further action may be appropriate.