§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Prime Minister if he will raise Japan's continued whaling with Emperor Akihito during the latter's forthcoming visit. [42170]
§ The Prime Minister[holding answer 20 May 1998]: Under the Japanese constitution, the Emperor has a strictly non-political role. However, we have made the Japanese Government aware on many occasions that the United Kingdom supports a permanent international ban on whaling, with the exception of some limited aboriginal subsistence whaling. The most recent occasion was at the International Whaling Commission meeting that took place between 27 and 29 May in Oman.