BREAKING: Scotland to "replicate" English XL Bully rules, First Minister Humza Yousaf confirms

SCOTTISH XL Bully dogs will be subject to the same controversial rules introduced in England, First Minister Humza Yousaf has confirmed.

Speaking during First Minister's Questions today (January 11), Mr Yousaf pinned the change on "a flow of XL Bully dogs coming to Scotland".

He denied that the new rules were "a ban on XL Bully dogs", and blamed the Scottish Government's delayed decision on a lack of consultation from Westminster.

More information about the introduction of the stringent regulations, set out in the Dangerous Dogs Act, should be provided in a Holyrood statement next week, the First Minister confirmed.

“What has become clear, I'm afraid, in the last few weeks is that we have seen a flow of XL Bully dogs coming to Scotland," he said.

"A number of people coming to Scotland to bring XL Bully dogs here to the country.

“As such, and we'll give further details to members of the Scottish Parliament through a ministerial statement if the Parliamentary Bureau agrees next week, we will, in essence, replicate the legislation that is in England and Wales here in Scotland.

“Because, ultimately, although we do have a very good system of Dog Control Notice Schemes – and we do take the approach of deed, not breed – we have to respond to the situation as it currently stands.

"And therefore we will do what we need to do to ensure public safety."

He added: "Of course, owners can still keep an XL Bully dog.

"They have to make sure it's registered on the exemption index.

"They have to fulfil the other criteria of the legislation.

"And of course when this was first announced – without any consultation with the Scottish Government or, indeed, as far as I can see, any consultation with animal welfare stakeholders – the Scottish Government committed to engage with animal welfare stakeholders and to continue to engage with the UK Government."