Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if the Government will create a new regulator to address (a) horse welfare and (b) deaths of race horses.

The British Horserace Authority (BHA) are responsible for the welfare of racehorses at racetracks. The BHA work in collaboration with the RSPCA and World Horse Welfare to make racetracks as safe as possible. The number of racehorse fatalities at racetracks has been falling steadily since 2012, which is welcome. However, whilst I do not see a need for a new regulator, I consider that improvements can be made to further reduce the number of racehorse fatalities each year. I will explore this issue further when I meet BHA to discuss racehorse safety.