15. Mr. R. C. Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Trade what recent representations his Department has received concerning the banning of imported goods in the manufacture of which whale sperm oil is used.
§ Mr. MeacherNone, Sir.
Mr. MitchellDespite that reply, does the Minister agree that there is considerable concern about this matter and that for almost all the products concerned there is a viable alternative to the use of whale sperm oil? Are there any insurmountable administrative difficulties in imposing such a ban?
§ Mr. MeacherThe existing controls on the import of whale products result from 1140 conservation reasons under the Endangered Species Act 1976. I understand that in the case of the sperm whale there is no danger of extinction, and at any rate until adequate substitutes are available—particularly for the purpose of lubricating leather, which is its main use—I do not think that we can contemplate a ban. I know that there is concern about this matter, and the Government have been encouraging a number of research projects in order to find substitutes for sperm oil, particularly in the lubrication of leather and in engineering applications.
§ Mr. David PriceWill the Minister think again on this? Is he aware that the marginal advantage of sperm oil—and it is marginal—over alternative products in the treatment of leather is as nothing compared with the threat of the total destruction of the whale species in the world?
§ Mr. MeacherIf scientific evidence could be produced to indicate that there was a danger of the destruction of the sperm whale, then certainly, under the 1976 Act, we would contemplate a ban.