§ Miss Fookesasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to protect water birds, especially swans, from lead poisoning.
§ Mr. Denis HowellI have asked the Nature Conservancy Council to form a working group of all the interested parties to investigate the effect of lead shot eaten by swans and to make recommendations.
The provisional terms of reference of the working party include the preparation of a code of practice for anglers, the investigation of alternatives to lead shot and the consideration of what can be 544W done to clear up lead shot from river banks.