Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the report by R.E. Green, M.A. Taggart and D.J. Pain et al. entitled Outcomes from monitoring the fourth year of a five-year voluntary transition from hunting with lead to non-lead shotgun ammunition in Britain, Conservation Evidence Journal (2024) 21, if she will make an assessment of the implications for her policies of the findings in that report on the proportion of game birds that were shot with lead in 2023; and whether she plans to take steps to ban the use of lead shot in hunting.

The use of lead shot in England and Wales is already prohibited in specific circumstances by existing legislation – including on all foreshores, and in or over specified sites of special scientific interest, predominantly wetlands.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is currently finalising its UK REACH opinion on further action to restrict the use of lead in ammunition. This work has included looking at information submitted to them with regard to possible options to control the use of lead ammunition. The previous study from the paper cited (also known as the SHOT-SWITCH study) has been considered and is referenced in the background document of evidence and opinion with respect to what can be inferred on a voluntary transition from lead shot to alternatives.

HSE expects to issue its final restriction opinions in autumn 2024. The decision to apply any UK REACH restrictions as a further regulatory measure, or not to do so, will subsequently be made by the DEFRA Secretary of State, with the consent of the Scottish and Welsh Ministers.