XL BULLIES FACE BAN

Scottish Government urgently considering law on dangerous breed after Sunak pledges action | Man, 52, killed in horror attack by two dogs yesterday is latest victim in sériés of fatal

- ALAN MCEWEN , SARAH VESTY

BANNING American XL bully dogs is being urgently considered by the Scottish Government after a string of fatal attacks.

The move follows an announcement by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak yesterday confirming the breed will be banned by the end of the year.

Sunak backed the idea as Ian Price, 52, was named as the man killed in a horrific attack by two dogs, thought to be American XL bullys, in Staffordshire.

Ian died after suffering multiple injuries in Stonnall, near Walsall.

The banned breeds list is a matter for the Scottish Government and Scottish Parliament in terms of its operation in Scotland, although the Index of Exempted Dogs or IED is operated by the UK Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

Last night a Scottish Government spokesperson said: "We are urgently considering today's announcement from the UK Government on XL bully dogs and whether similar changes to ban the breed will be applied in Scotland." First Minister Humza Yousaf confirmed a Scottish being ban is considered but insisted a "firm decision" hasn't yet been made.

He confirmed he'd asked his officials "to liaise with the UK Government to understand a little bit more about the proposals in relation to the ban".

With SNP backbencher Christine Grahame bringing forward a member's Bill to Holyrood on dog welfare, Yousaf said that proposed legislation could mean "there may be opportunities to consider a ban up here in Scotland".

But he stated: "We haven't come to a firm conclusion on that." Meanwhile, an animal charity warned a ban was not the answer to tackling the spate of attacks.