Question reference: S6W-24480
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 12 January 2024
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Current status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 24 January 2024
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what issues it raised with the UK Government regarding the potential displacement of XL bully dogs to Scotland from England and Wales in the event that legislation that exists in England and Wales were not to be replicated in Scotland, and when it raised any such issues.
Answer
I wrote to the then UK Government Minister for Biosecurity, Marine and Rural Affairs, The Rt Hon Lord Benyon, on 14 November 2023 seeking clarity from the UK Government on whether XL Bully dog owners would be committing the offence of sale of an XL Bully dog if a dog owner living in England and Wales sought to do that outside of England and Wales.
The UK Government were unable to give a definitive answer indicating it would be ‘unlikely’ an offence would be committed in such a situation.