HC Deb 29 July 1997 vol 299 c155W
Mr. Matthew Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the British embassy in Moscow last contacted the Russian authorities about the cull of baby seals in the White sea. [10946]

Mr. Tony Lloyd

The British embassy in Moscow last contacted the Russian authorities about the number of Greenland seal pups taken from the White sea on 28 May. It was advised then that the quota for the 1997 cull was broadly the same as for 1996–31,000—but that the final figure was not yet available. The embassy will approach the Russian authorities again in September.