HL Deb 23 February 1984 vol 448 c960WA
Lord Houghton of Sowerby

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What progress has been made with measures to prevent the serious damage to our swan population by lead weights on fishing line.

Lord Skelmersdale

In their response to the report by the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution on lead in the Environment in July of last year, the Government re-affirmed their commitment to the phasing-out of the use of lead weights by anglers by December 1986. It is hoped that this can be done by voluntary means, but we have said that legislation ill be considered if necessary.

The development of a suitable alternative to lead-shot has posed technical difficulties, but various commercial interests have taken up the problem and so far two quite different materials composed of nontoxic substances are expected to be available for use in the forthcoming coarse fishing season.