§ Lord Gridley asked Her Majesty's Government:
§ Whether they intend to withdraw from the international agreement on the ban on whaling.
§ The Earl of Strathmore and KinghorneMy Lords, the United Kingdom was among the leading coutries in achieving the moratorium on commercial whaling. We are not prepared even to contemplate lifting the moratorium unless and until certain conditions are met. This is not yet the case.
§ Lord GridleyMy Lords, I thank my noble friend for than. Answer. Is he aware that only at the beginning of last week there was confusion about the Government's intended position on whaling at the early meeting of the International Whaling Commission? As a consultant on wildlife care, I was pursued about the matter.
§ The Earl of Strathmore and KinghorneMy Lords, the Government have long been in the lead in pressing for the conservation of whales. The moratorium achieved under the International Whaling Commission is still in place after its review last year. The number of whales taken for scientific whaling purposes during the moratorium has been greatly reduced as a result of the pressures of the International Whaling Commission. Furthermore, the EC has prohibited trade in whale products. The Government will continue to work for the conservation of whales through all appropriate means.
§ Lord Gallacher My Lords, will the Minister accept an assurance that Members on this side of the House fully support the line that the Government are taking in respect of the moratorium on the international whaling, agreement? Countries such as Norway and Iceland like to be thought of in world terms as being environmentally conscious and sensitive. Why are they in favour of ending the moratorium or, if that is not achieved, in favour of a breakaway agreement which will permit them to resume limited whaling? In the light of the position taken by Norway and Iceland, will the Government remind themselves that those countries are affluent in terms of fish? Indeed, in 1990 one-third of all fish imported into this country came from Iceland.
§ The Earl of Strathmore and KinghorneMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Gallacher, for his opening remarks. Iceland has observed the moratorium since it was introduced. However, it continued scientific; whaling up to and including 1989. Norway has not withdrawn its formal objection to the moratorium but it ceased coastal whaling after the 472 1987 season. Since then it has conducted some research whaling. During the past year it has taken only five whales in order to examine the digestive biology of the minke whale. The moratorium on whaling has no connection with negotiations on fishing opportunities. However, during the mid 1970s most countries in the world moved to a 200 mile fishery limit, including the United Kingdom. Our limits were laid down in the 1976 Act. Fishing within the limits of other countries must be a matter for negotiation.
§ Lord Hailsham of Saint MaryleboneMy Lords, I acknowledge that my noble friend's Answer will be received with satisfaction by whales throughout the world. However, will he confirm that the point is not merely one of conservation but of the inherent cruelty in the methods of killing whales in any form?
§ The Earl of Strathmore and KinghorneMy Lords, I agree entirely with my noble and learned friend. My right honourable friend the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has made clear that we cannot contemplate lifting the moratorium on commercial whaling until certain conditions are met, including the condition that killing must be as humane as possible. Those conditions have not yet been met.
§ Lord GrimondMy Lords, what scientific purpose is served by scientific whaling? Is it not used by some countries engaged in whaling, in particular the Japanese, as a cover for killing whales for commercial use and food?
§ The Earl of Strathmore and KinghorneMy Lords, the Government have taken the lead in pressing for scientific research projects which involve taking whales to be modified or withdrawn when they have not been accepted by the scientific committee as being essential for the comprehensive assessment of whale stocks or the development of a revised management procedure. That pressure has resulted in some projects being withdrawn and the number of whales taken to be reduced in others. The international convention for the regulation of whaling provides for whaling under research permits. Therefore, Japan and Norway have been acting within the terms of the convention but have modified programmes in the light of the view of the International Whaling Commission.
§ Lord Cledwyn of PenrhosMy Lords, in his initial reply, the noble Earl referred to certain conditions being met and he has just named one; namely, the humane killing of whales. Are there any other conditions? If so, can he specify them?
§ The Earl of Strathmore and KinghorneMy Lords, indeed I can. There are three conditions: first, stocks must be at healthy and sustainable levels; secondly, a satisfactory management procedure must be in place; and thirdly, the methods used to take the whales must be as humane as possible.