§ Mr. HardyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has assessed the risk of the bottle-nosed dolphin and the harbour porpoise disappearing as breeding species in British coastal waters; and whether the level of harmful chemicals existing in the bodies of those remaining is the major cause of this decline.
§ Mrs. Virginia Bottomley[holding answer 15 May 1989]: Available evidence based on sightings and strandings of these species, including that compiled by the United Kingdom cetacean group, indicates that there has been a decline in these species in United Kingdom coastal waters. It is not possible to say how far pollutants or other factors such as changes in fish stocks may have contributed to this. The Department of the Environment, together with other interested Departments and agencies, is considering further research to improve our knowledge of the questions.