§ Mr. HanleyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the results of the vote in the International Whaling Commission on the United Kingdom resolution against current Japanese research whaling.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonThe United Kingdom was seriously concerned about the current Japanese feasibility programme of whaling for scientific purposes. We therefore proposed a resolution in the International Whaling Commission calling on Japan to refrain from carrying out its programme until the various doubts had been resolved. I am pleased that the resolution has been supported by 16 of the 32 members of the International Whaling Commission eligible to vote, with only four votes against and four abstentions. We however required 17 votes for the resolution to take effect. Nevertheless the result very clearly demonstrates the unease and concern of the large majority of the International Whaling Commission members who chose to vote about whether the Japanese programme is fully justified and has fully satisfied criteria for sound scientific research. We consider that Japan should pay firm heed to this concern and will continue to work through the International Whaling Commission to this end.