Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with the National Police Chiefs Council on the (a) enforcement and (b) prioritisation of the addition of XL Bully type dogs to Section 1 of the Dangerous Dogs Act.

Defra worked closely with the National Police Chiefs Council in developing and delivering the ban on XL Bully type dogs. Representatives from the National Police Chiefs Council formed part of the expert group that developed the conformation standard for the XL Bully, so the breed type could be banned in law. We have continued to engage regularly with their representatives on the enforcement of the XL Bully ban and have supported the police to deliver additional training to Dog Legislation Officers to make sure the ban is effectively enforced.