§ Sir Bernard Braineasked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will seek to amend Schedule 3 to the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act 1976 so as to exclude the importation of any whale product from species of whale which are considered endangered; and what initiative he is prepared to take to give a lead to other trading nations.
§ Mr. MarksI have been asked to reply.
Species of whale which are considered to be endangered are listed in Appendix I to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Washington Convention). Only in very exceptional circumstances would licences be issued under the 1976 Act for the scheduled products of these endangered species and then only on advice from the Scientific Authority for Animals set up under the Act.
Last year the United Kingdom took the initiative in sponsoring several additional species of whale for eventual inclusion in Appendix I or II and is now co-ordinating an international review of the conservation status of all cetaceans for 402W consideration by the parties to the convention at their next meeting.