Last month, Green Party Life Peer Natalie Bennett lodged a parliamentary question for DEFRA to answer, asking what steps the Government plans to take to end the use of toxic lead shot given the gamebird-shooting industry’s continued failure to do it voluntarily.
Her question came after a new scientific study was published, led by eminent researchers from the University of Cambridge, showing that three years into a five-year pledge to completely phase out lead shot in UK game hunting, 94% of pheasants on sale for human consumption were killed using toxic lead ammunition (see here).
Here is Natalie’s question:
And here is the reply from DEFRA Minister of State (and gamebird shooter) Lord Benyon:
Christ almighty. Almost another year to wait for a decision from DEFRA on whether to restrict the use of lead ammunition, when the risk from this toxic poison to wildlife, people and the environment has been known for, literally, decades.
UPDATE 13th September 2023: Is DEFRA can-kicking the decision to phase out use of toxic lead ammunition by gamebird shooters? (here)
Raptor Persecution UK 
I am continually amazed and perplexed by how long it takes any government related body (local government, Scottish & UK governments) to make decision. I am pretty sure that any issue that they find unpalatable gets deprioritised, so rather than have enough people to analyse data and consider the response in a timely manner, there is one person working part time who has several other responsibilities.
In this particularly case, it smacks of continual time wasting, in hopes this matter will go away or failing that the final decisions will be so watered down as to be meaningless. In short the the shooting industry and its mates in DEFRA have no interest in giving up lead shot. Can Scotland go it alone?
Delay, delay, delay … what is it with politicians that they seem to be unable or incapable of making even the simplest of decisions? I can only think they are always desperately determined not to be seen to make an error of judgement! Guess that makes them some of the weakest and least determined characters going … and these people contribute to the running of the country .. there is no hope!!!
In 2020, 9 high-profile shooting organisations called for an end to lead in ammunition.
They took no meaningful action and their members ignored them.
Lord Benyon – a man with no vested interests?
We can’t really expect anything else from a wealthy Tory, unelected minister who owns a grouse moor and an estate where there is a pheasant shoot.
I can guarantee that if you want change about which you agree, you will accuse government of dragging its feet. However the reverse also applies as the same people will shout ‘foul, knee-jerk, not enough consultation’ when that same government makes a rapid decision with which you do not agree! You cannot please all of the people all of the time.
Kicking the can down the road. No regard for human health, especially those who eat shot food regularly, the wider environment or those birds that pick up lead thinking it is grit. Yet another scandal to lay at the door of these woefully and wilfully useless Tories.
Those people who eat shot food regularly, or feed it to their children, should know better than to do so. It is self-inflicted harm.
This is one of those so calledc “concessions” waiting to happen but help up to play during a situation that would gain them maximum political kudos .