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On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I would have voted no.

I am grateful that, in the busy final hours of this parliamentary session, a moment has been found to consider a law to alleviate the suffering of animals.

The true mark of a society is the way in which it treats its animals. The case against greyhound racing is plain to see. The numbers speak for themselves. Since the industry started recording figures in 2017, there have been nearly 4,000 deaths and a staggering 35,000 injuries across the United Kingdom.

The reasons for that are clear. Racing greyhounds at speeds of up to 40 miles per hour on an oval track results in catastrophic injuries and deaths. The dogs slow down as they enter the first bend, bunching together and crashing as they jostle for position. Centrifugal forces pull the dogs towards the outside of the track, resulting in crashes on the fence. Dogs break their legs, break their backs and end up paralysed and with serious head trauma. I am sickened by the images from racetracks that show deaths and injuries day in, day out on social media. It is time that that stops. Today, we have the chance to ensure that in Scotland—if the bill passes.

Even at this late stage, some members will continue to argue that regulation and licensing are the best way forward, but the injuries and deaths are happening mostly under a licensed regime. The industry has had years to reform, but it has been unwilling or unable to make changes that remove the inherent risk to the dogs that are racing. Licensed greyhound racing is simply licensed animal cruelty. As long as greyhound racing is a lawful activity, it will continue to be impossible to prevent suffering under our animal welfare laws.

Yes, absolutely. I thank Clare Haughey for her relentless support for the bill, which comes from a position of experience, because the Shawfield stadium is in her constituency, and she has listened to and seen the evidence first hand. I agree with her that the only way forward is to make racing a greyhound a stand-alone offence in law. Some argue that the last remaining racetrack in Scotland, which is unlicensed, is an exception—a harmless hobby enterprise—but Thornton racetrack in Fife is no different from any other track in the UK. The dogs face the same risks, just with less oversight. There are those who want to see a resurgence of greyhound racing in Scotland. The owner of the Thornton track has stated that, if it were not for the campaign for the bill, he would be expanding and televising races to betting shops around the UK. There would be more dogs racing in more races, more dogs injured and more dogs killed.

The public do not want to see that. More than two thirds of people in Scotland want to see an end to greyhound racing. A spectacle that was invented 100 years ago is now becoming socially unacceptable. Our values have changed; times have changed. The case against greyhound racing has never been stronger, and the international consensus to end the suffering of these dogs is now unstoppable. Just yesterday, Wales voted to ban greyhound racing. Scotland cannot be left behind.

The bill would end greyhound racing on all tracks in Scotland, licensed or unlicensed. It would protect these beautiful dogs from the inherent harms of greyhound racing. I appeal to all members in the Parliament to vote for the bill at decision time tonight. I am greatly honoured to move the motion.

I move,

That the Parliament agrees that the Greyhound Racing (Offences) (Scotland) Bill be passed.

15:07

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I would have voted yes.

Would the existing licensing regime cover the pelagic sector in international waters, or is that a gap?

Is that regardless of where the fishing takes place?

Okay, so that is not a gap.

A UK-wide approach is being taken to the issue—I understand the reason for that, so I welcome it. However, I have a slight concern. If the regulations are being introduced in other parts of the UK—I am thinking of Wales—eight months ahead of their introduction here, that could open up the potential for such products to be dumped in Scotland. I am not clear about what interministerial conversations have taken place on the issue. Is it a live concern? If so, how will it be addressed?

Looking at the detail, I can see that the instrument seems to be about controlling the dumping of stuff—the deposit of substances and objects, the scuttling of vessels, dredging, and the deposit of explosive substances. It is quite an alarming list. Is there evidence to suggest that such dumping is happening at the moment in the area beyond the Scottish marine area and that it is coming from particular sectors? If so, which sectors are they? Is it the fishing sector or is it maritime sector?

I thank the cabinet secretary for engaging with campaigns across Perthshire to protect libraries, and in particular for accepting my invitation to come and visit Scone library at the end of last year. At that event, the Scottish Library and Information Council announced that it would be publishing new guidance on what constitutes the adequate provision of libraries, for which campaigners in Perthshire have been calling for a long time. When can we see that guidance being produced and utilised by councils?