§ Mr. Stephen Rossasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in view of the fact that the killing of cetaceans by the use of the cold harpoon is inhumane, he will propose a ban on its use at the next meeting of the International Whaling Commission in July 1980.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithThe United Kingdom delegation supported a successful proposal at the 31st annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission in 1979 to restrict severely the use of non-explosive ("cold") harpoons. Accordingly an amendment to the schedule to the 1946 Whaling Convention banning the use of such harpoons for killing whales larger than minke whales is expected to come before the 32nd annual meeting this year, and this will be supported by the United Kingdom delegation.