§ Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will publish in the Official Report a list by value and volume of whale-derivative imports for each of the last five years, stating the countries of origin.
§ Mr. Biffenasked the Secretary of State for Trade what has been the value and volume of whale products during the past three years; and what consideration has been given to the non-importation of the products as a means of encouraging the preservation of the species.
§ Mr. Deakins,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 29th July 1975; Vol. 896, c. 483] gave the following information:
The import of baleen whale products was banned in March 1973. Sperm whale products are exempt from import restrictions since sperm whales are not thought to be in danger of over-exploitation.
Following are the import figures required:—
535W
Commodity Tons £ Thousand cif Principal Countries of Consignment Whale oil (not including sperm oil) boiled, or idised, polymerised or otherwise modified: 1970 … … … … 3 1 Italy. 1971 … … … … 7 2 Italy. 1972 … … … … 0 0 1973 … … … … 0 0 1974 … … … … 0 1‡ USA. Whale oil (not including sperm oil) hydrogenated solidified or hardened: 1970 … … … … 11 1 West Germany. 1971 … … … … 7 1 Switzerland and West Germany. 1972 … … … … 0 0 1973 … … … … 0 0 1974 … … … … 0 0 Spermaceti: 1970 … … … … 23 3 Norway and Netherlands. 1971 … … … … 1,103 112 Netherlands, West Germany and Norway. 1972 … … … … 69 18 West Germany, Norway and USA. 1973 … … … … 101 31 West Germany, Norway and USA. 1974 … … … … 333 126 West Germany, France and Netherlands. * Refined sperm oil was not separately distinguished prior to February 1973. † February to December only. ‡ Figure under investigation and liable to revision.