James Evans MS has again hit out at the Welsh Government’s greyhound racing ban after a new implementation report raised fresh questions over whether the legislation was passed before its full consequences had been properly considered. The Prohibition of Greyhound Racing (Wales) Act received Royal Assent in April, but the first report of the Greyhound Racing Ban Implementation Group states that it does not currently have enough information to fully assess the potential social and economic impacts of the ban or propose measures to mitigate them. The report identifies potential impacts on staff, trainers, suppliers, contractors and local businesses, but says these costs have yet to be quantified. An industry forecast included in the report estimates the media contract for Valley Greyhound Stadium could be worth £15 million over the next five years. The report also identifies 364 greyhounds currently registered with the Valley track and 18 registered trainers, and recommends a 12-month wind-down period to support rehoming. The Welsh Government has agreed to that recommendation in principle, but says it cannot mandate a phased reduction in racing and that an appropriate final date is still to be agreed. The Implementation Group is now developing a detailed implementation plan, including a proposed timetable and further work on rehoming, welfare and managing economic and social impacts, which is expected in its autumn report. James Evans MS, Member of the Senedd for Brycheiniog Tawe Nedd, said: “I have warned throughout this process that this ban was being pushed through before the full consequences had been properly understood, and this report raises some very serious questions. The law is already on the statute book, yet we are now being told that the wider economic and social costs have still not been quantified, the implementation timetable is still being developed and important aspects of rehoming and welfare arrangements are still being worked through. “There are 364 greyhounds currently registered at the Valley track whose welfare must be protected, alongside trainers, employees, suppliers and local businesses whose livelihoods will be affected. These are not things that should be treated as an after thought. “I care deeply about animal welfare, which is precisely why I have always argued that any decision of this scale needs to be based on evidence, proper planning and a full understanding of the consequences. “The Welsh Government now needs to be completely transparent about the remaining work and make sure that welfare, jobs and the wider impacts are properly addressed before the ban comes into force. This is exactly why proper scrutiny matters.”

James Evans MS has warned that the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Farming Scheme risks creating a system where the big landowning organisations with large areas of habitat land gain most, while farmers producing food struggle to access the same level of support. Raising the issue in the Senedd, James said early indications from the scheme’s opening and the ready reckoner suggest habitat-related payments could heavily reward those with large areas of habitat land, while food-producing farms do not receive the same benefit. James Evans MS, Member of the Senedd for Brycheiniog Tawe Nedd, said: “Public money should support working farms and rural communities, not create a system that rewards organisations with large areas of habitat land. If the incentives are skewed towards habitat payments that only the biggest players can maximise, family food producing farms will be the ones who lose out. The Welsh Government must publish clear, transparent impacts of the scheme and ensure it is fair, so farmers producing food aren’t penalised for doing exactly what the country needs them to do.”