§ Mr. DafisTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much is currently spent by his Department on research into small cetaceans in the coastal waters around the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. MacleanThe sum of £86,396 has been allocated in this financial year for United Kingdom cetacean research.
§ Mr. DafisTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to promote the protection of small cetaceans at the forthcoming Earth summit.
§ Mr. MacleanThe Government support international and regional efforts to promote the conservation of small cetaceans. They recently signed, and will finance the interim secretariat to, the agreement for the conservation of small cetaceans of the North and Baltic seas under the Bonn convention. I expect the Earth summit to recognise the importance of such measures.