§ Mr. Chopeasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement about the expiry on 30 September of the European ban on the import of baby seal products.
§ Mr. WaldegraveI refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Renfrew, West and Inverclyde (Mrs. McCurley) on 9 July, at column395. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister had previously made clear our support for an extension of the ban on conservation grounds in her reply to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Rutland and Melton (Mr. Latham) on 21 June, at column 230.
I hope that agreement will be reached soon in the European Council on an extension of the ban.