§ 19. Mr. BowisTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures he is taking to promote the conservation of whales.
§ Mr. GummerThe Government are in the forefront of recent efforts within the International Whaling Commission to ensure that the moratorium on commercial whaling, which came into effect in 1985, is fully respected. We recently ensured that the scientific committee condemned Japanese attempts to use scientific excuses for whaling and it has asked them to stop. We shall continue to fight to ensure that the whale is conserved.
§ Mr. BowisWill my right hon. Friend find time to wait upon the Japanese representatives currently visiting this country, to pass on to them a guide to and examples of, good practice, and the way in which the British Government have dealt with the problem, and ask them to follow suit?
§ Mr. GummerI shall certainly look into that, and, if it proves possible, point out that the British Government's campaign has had full support from International Greenpeace and from Sir Peter Scott and the organisations that he represents.