Asked by: Lord McInnes of Kilwinning (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government how much was paid in compensation to the owners of XL Bully dogs who were euthanised before 15 March.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The total amount paid under the XL Bully dog compensation scheme was £78,900.
Defra received 406 valid claims for compensation for XL Bully dogs that were euthanised. Applications to this compensation scheme closed on the 15 March 2024. We do not hold data on the total number of XL bully dogs that may have been euthanised as a result of the ban.
Asked by: Lord McInnes of Kilwinning (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many XL Bully dogs were euthanised as part of the ban on that breed.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The total amount paid under the XL Bully dog compensation scheme was £78,900.
Defra received 406 valid claims for compensation for XL Bully dogs that were euthanised. Applications to this compensation scheme closed on the 15 March 2024. We do not hold data on the total number of XL bully dogs that may have been euthanised as a result of the ban.
Asked by: Lord McInnes of Kilwinning (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many XL bullies have been seized by police forces in England and Wales since January.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Since the formation of this policy under the last Government, Defra has not held information on the number of XL bullies that have been seized by police forces in England and Wales. This information will be held by individual police forces.
Asked by: Lord McInnes of Kilwinning (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of estimate of the number of unregistered XL bullies in England and Wales.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Since the formation of this policy under the last Government, Defra has not held data on the number of unregistered XL bullies in England and Wales.
Asked by: Lord McInnes of Kilwinning (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many registered XL bully dogs are aged (1) 0 or 1 years, (2) 2 or 3 years, (3) 4 or 5 years, (4) 5 or 6 years, (5) 7 or 8 years, (6) 9 or 10 years, (7) 11 years or more.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The table below provides a breakdown of registered XL Bully dogs by the ages requested.
Age of dog | Number of dogs |
0 or 1 years old | 16,461 |
2 or 3 years old | 26,304 |
4 or 5 years old* | 8,849 |
5 or 6 years old* | 4,392 |
7 or 8 years old | 1,954 |
8 or 9 years old | 1,039 |
11 years old or older | 807 |
*Please note that 5 year old dogs have been included in both age ranges.
Asked by: Lord McInnes of Kilwinning (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is the number of registered unneutered XL bullies in England and Wales.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Dogs aged under 12 months on the 31 January 2024 need to be neutered by the 31 December 2024. In March this year, the Government announced that there would be an extension for the youngest dogs that were aged less than 7 months on the 31 January 2024. These dogs would need to be neutered by the 30 June 2025. As these deadlines have not yet passed, we have not received and processed all neutering forms and so we do not hold data on the number of XL Bullies that have been neutered. We recommend that owners arrange for their dogs to be neutered as soon as possible to meet these deadlines.
Asked by: Lord McInnes of Kilwinning (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is the number of registered neutered XL bullies in England and Wales.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Dogs aged under 12 months on the 31 January 2024 need to be neutered by the 31 December 2024. In March this year, the Government announced that there would be an extension for the youngest dogs that were aged less than 7 months on the 31 January 2024. These dogs would need to be neutered by the 30 June 2025. As these deadlines have not yet passed, we have not received and processed all neutering forms and so we do not hold data on the number of XL Bullies that have been neutered. We recommend that owners arrange for their dogs to be neutered as soon as possible to meet these deadlines.
Asked by: Lord McInnes of Kilwinning (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to adding the American Bully XL to the list of banned dog breeds.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Lord Chamberlain (HM Household)
We take the issue of dangerous dogs and fatal dog attacks seriously and are making sure enforcement measures are fully utilised for all breeds of dog.
These measures range from Community Protection Notices that can be served for low level anti-social behaviour to offences under the Dangerous Dogs Act – where serious offences can see people put in prison for up to 14 years, disqualified from ownership or their dog euthanised if they allow it to become dangerously out of control.
We are working in partnership with the police, local authorities and animal welfare organisations to ensure that the full range of existing dog control powers are effectively applied, encourage responsible dog ownership and reduce the risk of dog attacks. We currently have no plans to add additional breed types to the banned breed list. It is already an offence under section 3 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 to allow any dog to be dangerously out of control in any place. Additionally, section 2 of the Dogs Act 1871 also allows a complaint to be made to a Magistrates’ court where a dog is “dangerous and not kept under proper control”. The court may then make any Order it considers appropriate to require the owner to keep the dog under proper control or, if necessary, that it be destroyed.
Asked by: Lord McInnes of Kilwinning (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many attacks have been made on humans and dogs by American Bully XLs since January 2022.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Lord Chamberlain (HM Household)
Defra does not collect this data. Hospital Episode Statistics published by NHS Digital include numbers of finished consultant episodes for hospital admissions in England that were caused by a dog bite or strike. Information on the breed type involved in dog control incidents may also be held by individual local authorities and police forces.