§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to discuss issues relating to whaling with the Norwegian authorities; and what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on(a) trends in Norwegian whale catches and (b) Norway's proposals to restore international trade in whale meat. [25961]
§ Mr. FatchettThe UK is opposed to commercial whaling and has supported the International Whaling Commission's (IWC) resolutions on numerous occasions calling on Norway to halt all such operations. We are, therefore, disappointed that Norway has announced a further increase in its 1998 catch quota of Minke whales. The UK will continue to work with like-minded countries to try to ensure that there is no resumption of international trade in whale products.