HC Deb 13 July 1992 vol 211 c428W
Mr. Simon Hughes

To ask the Prime Minister if he will undertake to raise Japan's continuing whaling activity with the Japanese Prime Minister, Mr. Kiichi Miyazawa, when he meets him this week; and if he will make a statement.

Dr. David Clark

To ask the Prime Minsiter if he will discuss the ban on commercial whaling and the proposed whale sanctuary in the Antarctic with the Prime Minister of Japan, Mr. Miyazawa, during his visit to London; and if he will make a statement.

The Prime Minister

I expressed the Government's concern at the continued hunting of Minke whales and urged Japan to continue to work within the International Whaling Commission.

Mr. Simon Hughes

To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to veto entry into the EC of any country which carries out commercial whaling; and if he will make a statement.

The Prime Minister

The United Kingdom supports membership of the Community for European countries which want to join and can take on the obligations. Commerce in whale products by EC member states was prohibited by a specific Council regulation—348/81—which was subsequently subsumed and extended by EC CITES regulations 3626/82 and 3418/83, implementing the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species—New applicants will be expected to apply the EC CITES regulation.