§ 36. Mr. Nicholas Edwardsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of the world's whaling catch is imported into the United Kingdom; and for what purposes.
§ Mr. PriorImports of whale products into this country represent about 7 per cent. to 10 per cent. of the production of whale products by countries who are members of the International Whaling Commission. They are used in animal feeding stuffs, food manufacture, and in industrial applications. More detailed information is as follows:
FIGURES FOR THE YEAR 1970 Whale-meal Whale Oil Sperm Oil Tons Tons Tons *Production of IWC members 157,253 64,651 130,127 †UK imports 19,201 1,523 14,114 Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. Proportion 12.21 2.36 10.85 Uses mainly animal foodstuffs mainly food manufacturing Industrial lubricants etc. Sources: * Provisional issue of International Whaling Statistics LXVII (Bureau of International Whaling Statistics, Sandefjord, 1971). † Annual Statement of Trade of the UK (HM Customs and Excise).