HL Deb 19 April 1982 vol 429 cc380-1

2.46 p.m.

Lord Bethell

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are aware that the European Parliament has voted by 160 votes to 10 to ban the import of seal products into Community member states, whether they propose to implement such a ban within the United Kingdom and whether they will seek to bring about an EEC directive along the lines suggested by the European Parliament.

Lord Lyell

My Lords, Her Majesty's Government are well aware of the European Parliament's resolution but maintain their view that unilateral action to ban imports of seal products would not be justified. The Commission alone can put forward proposals for new Community legislation. If in response to the European Parliament's resolution the Commission tables proposals for a Community-wide ban on imports of seal products, I can assure your Lordships that the Government will consider them very carefully.

Lord Bethell

My Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend. I wonder whether he is aware of the tremendous public feeling on this issue, particularly among young people, and of the volume of mail that has been sent to parliamentarians from constituents on this subject? Will he also confirm that there is in progress at present a scientific survey as to the ecological position of hood and harp seals? If that survey should show that the future of these species is indeed in danger, will he consider very seriously imposing a total ban on the import of seal products?

Lord Lyell

My Lords, regarding the last part of my noble friend's supplementary question, I would refer him to the third sentence of my original Answer. My noble friend will be aware that a study by the Nature Conservancy Council is being undertaken for the European Community. The position of the two species mentioned in the resolution is being reviewed, and the outcome of that review is expected by the end of this month. In reply to my noble friend's first two supplementary questions, the answer is, yes.

Lord Bishopston

My Lords, while the ban has been widely welcomed, will the Minister say something about the consistency of his attitude to the ban on the slaughter of seals around our coasts, having regard to what may be the conflicting claims of conservation on the one hand and the interests of the fishing industry on the other?

Lord Lyell

My Lords, the position of the Government is that there is no threat to the conservation of seals around our coasts—indeed, we believe that the problem of conservation is in respect of the fish.

Lord Wynne-Jones

My Lords, will the Minister confirm that these particular species are not included in the list of endangered species? If this is so, is it not undesirable to have unilateral action in such a case, especially when the Canadian Government claim that they have investigated the matter and have approved of it because they consider it essential to cull the seals in the interest of preserving fish?

Lord Lyell

My Lords, I am afraid I cannot confirm that the two species are included in the endangered species list. If I am wrong, I will write to the noble Lord. So far as the Canadian Government's position is concerned, that is a matter for them—we would not wish to add anything to that.