§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Government are taking to encourage Iceland to stop whaling; and if she will make a statement. [131940]
§ Mr. BradshawWhile it is certainly most regrettable, Iceland's decision to undertake a programme of lethal scientific research on whales is perfectly legal and our only recourse is thus to diplomatic protest. I met the Icelandic ambassador to London in September and left him in no doubt as to the UK Government's views on Iceland's unjustified and unnecessary plan to kill 38 minke whales this year; (the actual take turned out to be 36). On 10 September the UK Government, represented by the UK ambassador to Iceland, led a demarche of 23 countries urging the Icelandic Government to reconsider its decision to proceed with so-called "scientific" whaling. A demarche on this scale is significant, and I hope that the Icelandic Government will reflect on it before deciding how to take matters forward for next year.