§ Mr. Cartwrightasked the Secretary of State for Trade what representations have been made to him about the need to ban imports of sperm whale oil into the United Kingdom; and what replies he has given.
§ Mr. BishopI have been asked to reply.
I have received a number of letters and petitions from conservation societies and others on this point. My reply has been that sperm oil should continue to be exempt from the ban on the import of whale products since stocks of sperm whales are not in danger of over-exploitation and because certain industries would face difficulties if it were not imported.
At its recent annual meeting the International Whaling Commission adopted new procedures for the rational management of whale stocks which are designed to ensure that the stocks of all species are properly maintained.
The United Kingdom itself ceased whaling in 1963.