Question reference: S6W-24478
- 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 how many meetings its ministers have had with organisations or campaign groups regarding the consideration of replicating in Scotland the UK Government’s legislation on XL bully dogs; on what date any such meetings took place; what organisations were involved, and what views were expressed by those organisations or campaign groups.
Answer
I can confirm I have met with a range of stakeholders over the winter period to discuss XL Bully dogs and the restrictions in England and Wales.
I met with:
The Scottish SPCA and the Dogs Trust on 21 November 2023
The National Dog Warden Association on 21 November 2023
Dog Control Coalition on 22 November 2023
The Kennel Club on 30 November 2023
Blue Cross on 6 December 2023
Edinburgh Cat and Dog Home on 15 December 2023
Communication Workers Union on 9 January 2023
Police Scotland on 11 January 2023
These meetings revealed concern about the UK Government decision to introduce new safeguards for XL Bully dogs in England and Wales and caution about doing so in Scotland.
However the Scottish Government has now been left with little choice given the failure of the UK Government to ensure XL Bully dog owners living in England and Wales cannot evade the new safeguards through selling or otherwise disposing of their dogs in Scotland.