§ Miss Fookesasked the Prime Minister if he will list the responsibilities of the following Departments in relation to live and dead whales, their capture and their parts and products (a) Environment, (b) Trade, (c) Industry, (d) Education and Science, (e) Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and (f) Treasury.
§ The Prime MinisterThe Department of the Environment is responsible for the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act 1976 which controls trade in endangered species of whales and their specified parts and derivatives.
9WThe Department of Trade and the Treasury have no responsibilities in this matter.
The Department of Industry is responsible for sperm whale by-products used in industrial processes and for the encouragement of research into substitutes for sperm oil.
The Department of Education and Science has financial responsibilities for the British Museum (Natural History) and the Natural Environmental Research Council. The Museum maintains a national collection of whale exhibits. The Natural Environmental Research Council has a whale research unit to advise on the exploitation and conservation of whales and further the scientific knowledge of marine mammals.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has responsibility for overall policy on whaling, and represents the United Kingdom at the International Whaling Commission.