Mr. Jim Callaghanasked the Secretary of State for Industry what he estimates would be the repercussions on trade and employment if the use of whale oil were discontinued in the United Kingdom; and what research is being conducted to find substitute oil for that obtained from whales.
§ Mr. David MitchellSperm whale oil is the only whale oil which may be imported into the United Kingdom; 5 tonnes were imported in the period January-June 1980.
The Department has consulted users of sperm whale products, and I do not consider that implementation of a proposal to ban the import of such products into the EEC from 1 January 1982 would have significant adverse repercussions on trade or employment. There have been a number of research projects internationally which I believe will enable sperm whale oil users to find adequate substitutes by 1982.