Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what (a) financial and (b) other support his Department has provided to the greyhound racing sector as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.

Greyhound racing, as part of the leisure industry, is eligible to access the help announced by the Chancellor on 17 March. This set out a business rates holiday for businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors, irrespective of rateable value, so that all eligible businesses will pay no business rates for 12 months. On 18 March, MHCLG published guidance for local authorities on the application of the relief.

In addition, the government has announced the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, through which all UK employers will be able to access support to continue paying part of their employees’ salary for those employees that would otherwise have been laid off during this crisis. Furthermore, the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme provides loans of up to £5 million for SMEs through the British Business Bank, backed by an 80% government guarantee.

Officials continue to be in regular communication with the Greyhound Board of Great Britain to understand the needs of the sector during this time and ensure they are aware of central government guidance as we work towards the resumption of greyhound racing.