HC Deb 25 April 1991 vol 189 cc551-2W
Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to press for a permanent ban on any killing of whales; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gummer

I have taken a strong stand, both as Minister of State and as Minister, on the importance of conserving whale stocks and I have repeatedly stated my determination that no whale stock should again be over-exploited by man. Unless and until certain conditions are met I would not even contemplate agreeing to the lifting of the moratorium imposed by the International Whaling Commission on commercial whaling.

Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he intends to make any representations to the Japanese authorities about their continued slaughter of whales.

Mr. Curry

The Japanese Government are well aware of our views on scientific whaling. Last year the United Kingdom co-sponsored a resolution agreed by the International Whaling Commission calling on Japan to reconsider her intention of conducting scientific research whaling in the Antarctic ocean. Japan agreed to modify her programme in the light of comments by the IWC's scientific committee. We shall raise the issue again at the forthcoming meeting of the IWC.

Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food under what circumstances he would support a limited resumption of commercial whaling.

Mr. Curry

We are not prepared even to contemplate agreeing to the lifting of the moratorium placed by the International Whaling Commission on commercial whaling unless and until it is clear that whale stocks are at healthy levels, a satisfactory management procedure is in place and the methods of killing whales are as humane as possible. These conditions have not yet been met.

Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will pursue a common and permanent ban on the killing of whales for commercial, research or other purposes within the EC's common fisheries policy; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Curry

The European Community does not have competence for whaling matters and could not therefore take action within the common fisheries policy. There are no moves, however, by any member state to begin whaling in Community waters and trade in cetacean products is prohibited.

The United Kingdom has been and will remain in the forefront in the International Whaling Commission in working to ensure that the objective of conserving whales is fully observed.