HC Deb 05 May 1988 vol 132 c587W
32. Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he has taken to improve the conservation of whales.

Mr. Gummer

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given earlier to my hon. Friend the Member for Battersea (Mr. Bowis).

37. Mr. Jack

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the catching of whales for scientific purposes.

Mr. Gummer

It is the firm view of the Government that all proposals for the taking of whales for research purposes should be thoroughly examined by the scientific committee of the International Whaling Commission, which is the body responsible for the conservation of whale stocks. Only when this body is fully satisfied that the research programme will not endanger the whale stocks concerned, has valid objectives and is properly designed to achieve those objectives, and that these cannot be obtained through benign methods, should such research be undertaken.

Mr. Andrew Mitchell

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made in the protection of whales from hunting.

Mr. Gummer

In 1985 the International Whaling Commission (IWC) introduced a moratorium on all commercial whaling operations. The United Kingdom has been a leader in this as in other subsequent efforts to stop countries using questionable scientific arguments in order to continue whaling. We shall continue with these efforts in order to ensure the proper conservation of all whale species.