§ Sir Bernard Braineasked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will set out the reasons why he will not use his powers to ban the import into the United Kingdom of manufactured goods or produce 196W derived from whales, dolphins or porpoises; and whether he will review the matter.
§ Mr. MeacherManufactured goods containing primary whale products cannot readily be distinguished by Customs from similar goods not containing whale products and I would be loth to introduce a ban which could not be properly enforced. Moreover, although my powers relate to the import of all kinds of goods, United Kingdom policy on imports of whales and their products is determined by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food; without his initiative, therefore, I would not extend the coverage of the existing import restrictions unilaterally or undertake to review the matter.