Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 18 January 2024
18 Jan 2024 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
XL Bully Dogs
I thank the minister for providing advance sight of her statement.
This has been another example of the inability of our two Governments to work together. We have seen the consequence of that lack of alignment and confusion in recent weeks, but now that the Government has proposed a ban in Scotland, I hope that the minister will work with the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and others to ensure that it is workable, and that it will give the police, vets and local authorities the resources that they will need to enforce it. I also hope that it will provide support for owners on low incomes, given the cost of exemptions at a time of a cost of living crisis.
Will the minister recognise that appalling dog attacks occur when irresponsible owners fail to keep their dogs—this applies to many breeds—under control, yet those owners often escape with nothing more than a rap on the knuckles from the court? It is five years since the Government promised to take action against irresponsible owners and breeders, so it is simply not good enough for the minister to say that she will work in the medium term to look at potential improvements to the utterly inadequate Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010. Does she not accept that we need action now from the Government to provide councils, the police and the courts with stronger powers that make it clear that, ultimately, responsibility lies with irresponsible owners and breeders?
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing)
SNP
The next item of business is a statement by Siobhian Brown on new safeguards in relation to XL bully dogs. The minister will take questions at the end of her...
The Minister for Victims and Community Safety (Siobhian Brown)
SNP
I will begin by explaining the reason for the Scottish Government’s policy decision to introduce new safeguards in relation to XL bully dogs. The new safegua...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
The minister will now take questions on the issues raised in her statement. I intend to allow around 20 minutes for questions, after which time we will move ...
Russell Findlay (West Scotland) (Con)
Con
I thank the minister for advance sight of her statement. For fans of Scottish National Party grievance output, this really is a belter. Adults and children a...
Siobhian Brown
SNP
For clarity, Mr Findlay says that we dithered and delayed and refused to follow the ban down south in England and Wales, but that is inaccurate. I wrote to t...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Please resume your seat, minister. I am not having all the sedentary chuntering. Mr Lumsden, please do not interrupt the minister. If it was Mr Findlay, I am...
Siobhian Brown
SNP
It is important to reiterate and to understand the reason why the Scottish Government has been left with little choice in making this decision. The Scottish ...
Colin Smyth (South Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I thank the minister for providing advance sight of her statement. This has been another example of the inability of our two Governments to work together. W...
Siobhian Brown
SNP
As I have done in the past several weeks, I will most definitely work with all stakeholders as we create the legislation to replicate the position in England...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
A number of members seek to question the minister, so I would appreciate succinct questions, and answers to match.
Ruth Maguire (Cunninghame South) (SNP)
SNP
I have been contacted by constituents who are responsible owners of well-trained and well-looked-after American XL bullies who are beloved family pets. They ...
Siobhian Brown
SNP
The member raises an important question. I will be clear, as the First Minister was at First Minister’s questions earlier, that the introduction of safeguard...
Jamie Greene (West Scotland) (Con)
Con
Sadly, lives and limbs have been lost as a result of the most horrendous dog attacks. Data that I have uncovered shows that there have been 9,500 hospital ad...
Siobhian Brown
SNP
I get dog control notices from local authorities each week. Those deal with more than 1,200 dogs but there is not one distinct breed. There are some crossbre...
Emma Harper (South Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
Since the announcement of the changes to legislation in relation to XL bullies in England, we have seen reports of people bringing XL bullies to Scotland, in...
Siobhian Brown
SNP
As I made clear in my statement, the decision has not been taken lightly, but the Scottish Government has been left with little choice. I am aware that there...
Richard Leonard (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
Dog attacks are a serious issue. I have a constituent, Evelyn Baginski, who petitioned this Parliament demanding action on dog-on-dog attacks. I have an old ...
Siobhian Brown
SNP
On the member’s assumption that we are being “reactive”, I have to be honest that we had to be reactive in this particular situation. It was announced only o...
Jim Fairlie (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire) (SNP)
SNP
The UK Government, by not consulting the Scottish Government and making a desperate knee-jerk election-year promise, has demonised good responsible owners an...
Siobhian Brown
SNP
The member raises a very important point. It is a lack of certainty from the UK Government as to the effect of its legislation that has led to this decision....
Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD)
LD
Given the loss of life and serious injuries in other parts of the UK pertaining to this dog breed, it is right that we bring forward measures to address the ...
Siobhian Brown
SNP
On legislation, as I mentioned in my statement, the Scottish Government will look to work with key stakeholders and interested parties to look at potential i...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I advise members that four more members seek to ask a question. I hope to take all four, but I will need succinct questions and answers.
Fulton MacGregor (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP)
SNP
I am disappointed that we have to replicate the UK Government legislation, which has been widely criticised by animal welfare organisations and experts, such...
Siobhian Brown
SNP
As I said in my statement, the Scottish Government’s decision is not one that we have taken lightly; it reflects the specific circumstances that have arisen....
Liam Kerr (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
After months of Scottish Conservative pressure, the SNP has decided to ban XL bully dogs in Scotland, despite the First Minister saying earlier this month th...
Siobhian Brown
SNP
It is important that we engage with Scottish stakeholders, not override them by putting through legislation that comes up from down south. I have been doing ...
Maggie Chapman (North East Scotland) (Green)
Green
The Scottish Greens do not believe that banning ill-defined dog breeds is the best way to ensure either community safety or high animal welfare standards, so...
Siobhian Brown
SNP
The issue of animal welfare is not only important; it is emotive. The Scottish Government takes animal welfare very seriously and is committed to the highest...
Christine Grahame (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP)
SNP
I remain convinced, as I have been from the start, that the proposed regulations are ill considered and unjust to decent owners. Demonising a breed is not th...