§ Mr. Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the current pressures on the stock of each species of whale. [46192]
§ Mr. MorleyThe Government contribute to assessments of whale stocks through their membership of the International Whaling Commission. The IWC's Scientific Committee is continuing its programme of intensive assessments of great whale stocks, and is also developing long term research programmes to assess the effects of pollution and climate change on cetaceans.
§ Mr. Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the likely impact of a lifting of the moratorium on commercial whaling. [46196]
§ Mr. MorleyThe Government remain strongly opposed to lifting the existing moratorium on commercial whaling, since we believe that such an action would harm whale conservation.