HC Deb 19 January 1990 vol 165 cc469-70W
Mr. Vaz

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many representations he has received from hon. and right hon. Members and members of the public calling for a total ban on whaling; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Curry

I have received a great many representations on whaling. We work hard to ensure the conservation of whales. The United Kingdom played a leading role in securing the present moratorium on commercial whaling under the International Whaling Commission (IWC) and has been very active in working to ensure that it is not undermined. We have had much success with this policy—for example, Korea and now Iceland are no longer conducting scientific whaling research programmes.