§ Mr. Masonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he intends to take with manufacturers of non-toxic lead and representatives of angling bodies to ensure that suitable and effective non-toxic split lead shot is available to anglers before he considers legislation on this matter; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaldegraveThe Nature Conservancy Council held a meeting in January this year to review all recent evidence on swan deaths and populations and progress towards the development of alternatives to lead fishing weights. I am currently considering its report and I will make a statement in due course. Meanwhile, however, the NCC, together with representatives of manufacturers of alternatives to lead fishing weights and national angling organisations, has set up a small working group to look into the speeding-up of testing, developing and introduction of alternatives to lead fishing weights.