Search Results

1-20 of 40 results for subject:Norway

Show detailed: On Off

Results: 10 20 50 100

Sort by: Newest first Oldest first

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the Norwegian research on the safety of the CaMV promoter used in Chardon LL transgenic insert.

Asked by

Alan Simpson (Labour)

Answering body

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

30 March 2004

Reference

419 c1299W;419 c1301W; 163205

House

House of Commons

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the preliminary results of research carried out by Professor Terje Traavik of the Norwegian Institute of Gene Ecology on the health implications of GM maize crops for those living close to the...

Asked by

Joan Ruddock (Labour)

Answering body

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

23 March 2004

Reference

419 c699-700W;419 c701-2W; 161724

House

House of Commons

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she intends to take to persuade Norway to desist from catching whales; and if she will make a statement.

Asked by

Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat)

Answering body

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

27 January 2003

Reference

93069; 398 c547W;398 c545W

House

House of Commons

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many tonnes of (a) sand eel and (b) Norway pout Norway has been allowed to catch in European Union waters in each of the last five years. - Includes table.

Asked by

Ann Winterton (Conservative)

Answering body

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

10 December 2002

Reference

85510; 396 c193-4W

House

House of Commons

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress she has made in negotiating a derogation for the UK inshore fishing fleet, comparable to the Norwegian derogation, from this year's increase in fixed mesh sizes.

Asked by

Vera Baird (Labour)

Answering body

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

15 May 2002

Reference

56127; 385 c656-7W

House

House of Commons

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, What progress she is making in negotiating a derogation for the UK inshore fishing fleet, from this year's increase in fixed net mesh sizes. (Failed OPQ).

Asked by

Vera Baird (Labour)

Answering body

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

7 March 2002

Reference

381 c483W; 38022

House

House of Commons

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with her counterparts in (a) the EU member states and (b) Norway to secure a long term cod recovery programme. - (Holding answer 11 February 2002).

Asked by

Andrew George (Liberal Democrat)

Answering body

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

5 March 2002

Reference

35260; 381 c211W

House

House of Commons

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with her counterparts in (a) EU countries and (b) Norway to protect the future of low impact fishing methods throughout the fishing nations. - Ref to 29 January 2002, 379 c243W. (Holding...

Asked by

Andrew George (Liberal Democrat)

Answering body

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

5 March 2002

Reference

35263; 381 c210-1W

House

House of Commons

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Answered by

Elliot Morley (Labour)

Answering body

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Type

Oral answers to questions

Date

31 January 2002

Reference

379 c424

House

House of Commons

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Answered by

Elliot Morley (Labour)

Answering body

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Type

Oral answers to questions

Date

31 January 2002

Reference

379 c424

House

House of Commons

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, If she will make an assessment of the impact of conservation measures for cod stocks in (a) Icelandic and Norwegian waters and (b) waters under the aegis of the EU Common Fisheries Policy.

Asked by

John Wilkinson (Conservative)

Answering body

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Oral questions - Lead

Status

Answered

Date

31 January 2002

Reference

379 c424; 29546

House

House of Commons

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with her counterparts in (a) Europe and (b) Norway, regarding the proposal to (i) take low impact fishing methods out of the quota system, (ii) introduce management regimes which encourage low impact...

Asked by

Andrew George (Liberal Democrat)

Answering body

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

29 January 2002

Reference

30618; 379 c243W;379 c241-2W

House

House of Commons

Westminster Hall adjournment debate on whaling

Westminster Hall adjournment debate on whaling.

Lead member

Lord Stratford

Answering member

Elliot Morley

Department

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Type

Adjournment debates

Date

11 July 2001

Reference

371 c306-14WH

House

House of Commons

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when and how the Government has opposed Norwegian whaling (a) inside and (b) outside the International Whaling Commission; how the Government has sought to get the Norwegian Government to curtail whaling activities; and whether Norway is permitted to survey...

Asked by

Peter Bottomley (Conservative)

Answering body

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

5 July 2001

Reference

2078; 371 c258W

House

House of Commons

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, If she will make a statement on policy relating to the next year of the cod recovery programme. (Failed OPQ). - Includes ref to copy of the Agreed Record with Norway dated 21 June 2001 in Library.

Asked by

Bob Blizzard (Labour)

Answering body

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

28 June 2001

Reference

605; 370 c178W

House

House of Commons

Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what percentage of the British allocation of cod was caught in (a) the Norwegian and (b) the EU sector in each of the past three years. - Inc table.

Asked by

Christopher Gill (Conservative)

Answering body

Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

23 April 2001

Reference

157830; 367 c43W;367 c43-4W

House

House of Commons

Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food

Statement on what was the outcome of this year's annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission.

Asked by

Candy Atherton (Labour)

Answering body

Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

12 July 2000

For answer on

13 July 2000

Answered on

13 July 2000

Ms Atherton: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of this year's annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission. [131061] Mr. Morley: The International Whaling Commission's 52nd annual meeting was held in Adelaide from 3 to 6 July. I attended the meeting, together with officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department of the Environment, Transport and Regions and representatives of environmental organisations. Australia and New Zealand put forward a proposal to create a South Pacific Whale Sanctuary. This would have complemented the existing Southern Ocean Sanctuary by protecting the breeding areas and migration routes of whales that feed in the Southern ocean. It was endorsed by the South Pacific Forum, which represents all the range states affected by the proposed sanctuary. The UK was one of the co-sponsors of the proposal, and I spoke strongly in favour of it. But although it was supported by the majority of those voting, it unfortunately did not receive the three-quarters of votes cast necessary for adoption. Both the Australian and New Zealand Governments indicated that they would be submitting the proposal next year; the UK will again be supporting it. The UK took the lead in proposing a resolution condemning Japan's whaling under special permit (so-called `scientific' whaling) and urging Japan not to proceed with its plans for a new programme in the North Pacific; this would involve, among other things, taking for the first time sperm and bryde's, as well as minke, whales. In introducing the resolution, I made it clear that the UK Government regarded this as a serious development and one that we would continue to raise both bilaterally and in other fora. The resolution was adopted by a large majority, as was a similar resolution on Japanese whaling under special permit in the Southern Ocean Sanctuary. A resolution was adopted by consensus establishing a programme of further work on the Revised Management Scheme (RMS), which is being developed to regulate all aspects of any future commercial whaling. This followed a two day working group on the RMS which immediately preceded the IWC meeting itself. The resolution makes it clear that it does not affect, or in any way commit Governments to lift, the moratorium on commercial whaling. In agreeing to form part of the consensus we emphasised that the resolution did not commit us to accepting anything that we had not already agreed to, and that it did not preclude the inclusion of other elements in the RMS. At the meeting I reaffirmed the UK's opposition to whaling. There was only a limited discussion of the Irish proposals for a package of measures on whaling; we made it clear that the UK's position on these remains unchanged. I am pleased to say that efforts by Japan to secure a quota of 50 minke whales, despite the moratorium on commercial whaling, was again defeated by a substantial majority. We also strongly criticised Norway's continued whaling activities. I made clear the UK's continuing concern about the cruelty involved in whaling, and drew attention, in particular, to the need to improve the regulation and humaneness of hunts for small cetaceans such as dolphins and porpoises. Earlier in the meeting the UK made use of a video of a dolphin drive hunt in Japan which graphically illustrated the need for such improvements. Although it is primarily for the Government of the country concerned to regulate the killing of small cetaceans in its waters, I believe that the IWC has a useful role to play in helping to raise awareness of this issue and in improving standards. A number of other issues were considered. In particular, resolutions were adopted supporting the IWC's research programme on the effects of environmental change and pollution on cetaceans; drawing attention to the need to improve the protection of North Atlantic right whales, one of the most critically endangered species of whales, from mortalities caused by ship strikes and entanglement in fishing nets; drawing attention to the need for improved measures to conserve freshwater cetaceans (river dolphins); and calling on Canada to reconsider takes of bowhead whales from highly endangered stocks by indigenous peoples. While the failure to adopt the South Pacific Sanctuary was disappointing, in other respects this was a successful meeting for the UK, and demonstrated the continuing commitment by the majority of IWC members to upholding the moratorium on commercial whaling. The next IWC meeting will be held in London in July 2001.

Date

13 July 2000

Reference

353 c648-50W;353 c646-8W; 131061

House

House of Commons

Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food

Statement on the outcome of the Fisheries Council held in Brussels on 16th and 17th December; and if he will make a statement. - Inc tables.

Asked by

Jim Hood (Labour)

Answering body

Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

16 December 1999

For answer on

20 December 1999

Answered on

20 December 1999

Mr. Hood: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the Fisheries Council held in Brussels on 16 and 17 December; and if he will make a statement. [103840] Mr. Morley: I represented the United Kingdom at a meeting of the EU Fisheries Council in Brussels on 16-17 December, together with Mr. John Home Robertson, Deputy Minister for Rural Affairs in the Scottish Executive and Mrs. Brid Rodgers, the Northern Ireland Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, the first Minister from the newly devolved administration to attend an EU Council. The Council agreed by qualified majority, with France voting against, the total allowable catches (TACs) and quotas to apply in 2000 in Community waters and for Community vessels fishing in waters where catch limitations apply. Details of the final TACs are given in the following table. Following from the advice of fisheries scientists in the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), the Commission had initially proposed substantial cuts in many TACs, reflecting the poor state of some stocks, reduced recruitment to them or the need to bring fishing effort back to levels which will help to sustain the future availability of stocks. Working on the basis of the scientific advice but using some of the precautionary management options identified by the scientists, we were able to secure smaller cuts than originally proposed for a number of TACs including nephrops in Area VII, anglers (monk fish) in West of Scotland, the North Sea and in Area VII, and in some flat fish TACs. As a result, at the end of the negotiations, the total UK quotas agreed were some 95,000 tonnes higher in cod equivalent tonnes than in the Commission proposals. This increase reduces the estimated loss of quota value to the industry in 2000 from £70 million to £40 million. Recognising the need to take steps to promote the recovery of the badly depleted cod stock in the Irish Sea, we were able to secure a Council and Commission commitment to introduce a recovery programme, after consultation with a new regional group made up of fishermen, scientists, and administrators involved in this fishery. The Commission will for the first time use the emergency conservation powers available to it to bring forward measures closing those areas in the Irish Sea in which spawning cod congregate from February to April 2000, as a way of protecting the stock. This commitment to an EU recovery programme, which followed intensive preparatory discussions between us, the Irish and the Commission, sets an important precedent for regional co-operation under the Common Fisheries Policy and the involvement of the industry in management decisions on stock recovery. The Council also agreed on the closure from 1 January 2000 of the sandeel fishery off the Firth of Forth in the interests of protecting seabirds dependent on sandeels. This measure which is in line with scientific advice resulted from close co-operation between us, Denmark and the Commission. The Council further agreed not to reduce in 2000 the minimum landing size for plaice to 22 cm. As a result, I am pleased to confirm that this will remain at 27 cm. I successfully invoked the Hague Preference on all those stocks where it was in our overall interest to do so. The Regulation on TACs and Quotas adopted by the Council incorporates for the first time in a single Regulation the outcome of all the Community's international fisheries arrangements for 2000 between the Community and Norway, Faroes, Greenland and Iceland, and under the North West Atlantic Fisheries Organisation and the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission. The Council also adopted unanimously, with Portugal abstaining, the Regulation applying control measures for Community vessels in 2000 required under the North East Atlantic Fisheries Organisation arrangements. Commissioner Fischler confirmed that he would be meeting the Moroccan Minister of Fisheries on 20 December to initiate negotiations on a new fisheries agreement between the EU and Morocco. He also made brief presentations on a Commission report on regional meetings, which will become available and be considered from January 2000, and the Commission's proposals for further amendment of the Technical Conservation Regulation, which includes provision for a three year closure of the Firth of Forth sandeel fishery. 2000 TACs _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Stock 1999 TAC (tonnes) 2000 TAC (tonnes) Gain/Loss (%) Sandeels IIa, IV 1,000,000 1,020,000 2 Herring I, II 1,300,000 1,252,000 -4 Herring IVa,b 240,000 240,000 0 Herring IVc, VIId 25,000 25,000 0 Herring Vb, VIaN, VIb 68,000 42,000 -38 Herring Via (Clyde) 1,000 1,000 0 Herring VIIa 6,600 5,350 -19 Herring VIIe,f 1,000 1,000 0 Herring VIIg-k 21,000 21,000 0 Herring Iia, IV Ind. by-catch 30,000 36,000 20 Cod Iia, IV 132,400 81,000 -39 Cod Vb, VI, XII, XIV 11,800 7,480 -37 Cod VIIa 5,500 2,100 -62 Cod VIIb-k, VIII, IX, X 19,000 16,000 -16 Megrim Iia, IV 3,000 3,000 0 Megrim Vb, VI, XII, XIV 4,840 4,840 0 Megrim VII 22,400 17,920 -20 Dab and Flounder Iia, IV 30,070 30,070 0 Anglers Iia, IV 22,070 17,660 -20 Anglers Vb, VI, XII, XIV 8,600 8,000 -7 Anglers VII 26,670 23,000 -14 Haddock Iia, IV 88,550 73,000 -18 Haddock Vb, VI, XII, XIV 19,000 19,000 0 Haddock VII, VIII, IX, X 22,000 13,200 -40 Haddock VIIa 4,990 3,400 -32 Whiting Iia, IV 44,000 30,000 -32 Whiting Vb, VI, XII, XIV 6,300 4,300 -32 Whiting VIIa 4,400 2,640 -40 Whiting VIIb-k 25,000 22,500 -10 Hake Iia, IV 1,930 1,480 -23 Hake Vb, VI, VII, XII, XIV 30,910 23,600 -24 Lemon sole and witch Iia, IV 12,000 12,000 0 Blue whiting Iia NS 90,000 90,000 0 Blue whiting Vb, VI, VII, XII, 407,000 407,000 0 XIV Blue whiting VIIIabde 26,500 26,500 0 Nephrops Iia, IV 15,200 17,200 13 Nephrops Vb, VI 12,600 12,600 0 Nephrops VII 23,000 21,000 -9 Northern prawn Iia, IV 7,013 7,113 1 Plaice Iia, IV 102,000 97,000 -5 Plaice Vb, VI, XII, XIV 2,400 2,400 0 Plaice VIIa 2,400 2,400 0 Plaice VIId,e 7,400 6,500 -12 Plaice VIIf,g 900 800 -11 Plaice VIIh,j,k 1,350 1,350 0 Pollack Vb, VI, XII, XIV 1,100 1,100 0 Pollack VII 17,000 17,000 0 Saithe Iia, IIIb,c,d, IV 110,000 85,000 -23 Saithe Vb, VI, XII, XIV 7,500 7,000 -7 Saithe VII, VIII, IX, X 8,800 6,500 -26 Turbot and brill Iia, IV 9,000 9,000 0 Skates and rays Iia, IV 6,060 6,060 0 Mackerel Iia(EC), III, IV \ \ \ Mackerel Iia (non EC), Vb, VI, | 500,000 | 560,000 | 12 VII, VIIIabde, XII, XIV / / / Sole II, IV 22,000 22,000 0 Sole Vb, VI, XII, XIV 155 155 0 Sole VIIa 900 1,080 20 Sole VIId 4,700 4,100 -13 Sole VIIe 700 660 -6 Sole VIIf,g 960 1,160 21 Sole VIIh,j,k 720 720 0 Sprat Iia, IV 175,000 225,000 29 Sprat VIId,e 12,000 12,000 0 Spurdog Iia, IV 8,870 9,470 7 Horse mackerel Iia, IV 60,000 51,000 -15 Horse mackerel Vb, VI, VII, 265,000 240,000 -9 VIIIa,b,d,e, XII, XIV _________________________________________________________________________________________________.

Date

20 December 1999

Reference

341 c437-40W; 103840

House

House of Commons

Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food

Statement on the outcome of the recent meeting of the International Whaling Commission. - Inc figures.

Asked by

Tony McNulty (Labour)

Answering body

Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

8 June 1999

For answer on

9 June 1999

Answered on

9 June 1999

Mr. McNulty: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the recent meeting of the International Whaling Commission. [86331] Mr. Morley: The International Whaling Commission's 51st Annual Meeting was held in Grenada from 24 to 28 May. I attended the meeting, together with officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, the Turks and Caicos Islands and the British Virgin Islands, as well as representatives of environmental organisations. At the meeting I re-affirmed the United Kingdom's opposition to whaling. I am pleased to say that efforts by Japan to secure a quota of 50 minke whales, despite the moratorium on commercial whaling, and to weaken the Southern Ocean Sanctuary were defeated by substantial majorities. There was once again strong criticism of Norway's and Japan's continued whaling activities. The Chairman of the IWC, the Commissioner for Ireland, announced that discussions with IWC members on the ideas put forward by Ireland in 1997 were continuing, although he had no real progress to report. The Irish proposals would involve a ban on all whaling, including scientific whaling, outside coastal waters, with the possibility that countries might authorise whaling under IWC rules within their own coastal waters for domestic consumption. The proposals also envisage a ban on international trade in whale products. In the ensuing debate I made it clear that the UK's ultimate aim remained a permanent, worldwide moratorium on all whaling other than aboriginal subsistence whaling. However, we recognised that this was not something that was likely to be achieved overnight, or that could be imposed on members of the IWC against their will. We were, therefore, prepared to consider ideas for reaching interim solutions on the way to our ultimate destination. But any arrangements of this kind would have to deliver very real benefits to whale conservation. In this context, we continued to have reservations about some aspects of the Irish proposals, in particular the possibility of renewed coastal whaling. I noted that it seemed, in any case, unlikely that the Irish proposals represented a realistic way forward, given the opposition by Japan to ending scientific whaling. In these circumstances it was important to consider other ways in which the IWC could move forward. In the UK's view these included: the creation of new regional sanctuaries; changing the emphasis of the IWC's scientific committee away from the management of whale stocks in the context of whaling towards a much broader exploration of whale conservation issues; continuing the IWC's efforts to assess fully the impact of environment change for cetaceans; greater involvement of the IWC in issues relating to small cetaceans; encouraging whalewatching as a benign, potentially very profitable and sustainable way of exploiting a natural resource; continued involvement of the IWC in welfare issues, including the encouragement of more efficient and humane killing methods, particularly in aboriginal subsistence whaling. I also reaffirmed that in the UK's view the IWC has an essential role to play as the only international body with worldwide responsibility for the conservation of whales and that we would continue to participate actively, and constructively, in its deliberations. Australia and New Zealand reported that consultations were continuing on the idea of a South Pacific Sanctuary, but that they were not yet in a position to put forward a formal proposal; the IWC is likely to revert to this topic next year. The meeting confirmed the central role that environmental concerns now play in the IWC's work. An impressive presentation by the US Commissioner demonstrated the scale of the potential threat posed to cetaceans by climate change and pollution. I emphasised that, in the light of our increasing understanding of these threats there was greater concern than in the past about the ability of whale populations to withstand direct exploitation; in our view this was a cogent reason to adopt a precautionary approach to cetacean conservation and management. The IWC agreed to provide core funding, including £100,000 drawn from its reserves, for two substantial programmes of research on the effects of climate change and pollution on cetaceans; it also urged other interested parties to contribute to these programmes. The IWC agreed a further 3-year aboriginal subsistence quota permitting inhabitants of St. Vincent and the Grenadines to take two hump back whales a year. During the meeting the IWC considered whether recent takes under this quota contravened IWC rules, which prohibit the killing of whale calves: it was not possible to reach a firm conclusion on this matter, as the rules in question are not entirely clear. However, the agreement to extend the quota amended the rules to remove any uncertainty, and the IWC also agreed a definition of the term calf for the purposes of this quota. In agreeing the quota the IWC also noted commitments by the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines to ensure that this hunt is properly regulated, to review and improve hunting and killing methods and to provide a more detailed statement of its aboriginal subsistence needs when seeking any further quota. As amended it is now absolutely clear that the taking of a cow and calf is forbidden. The IWC meeting was preceded by a workshop of scientific and veterinary experts which examined methods used to kill whales with a view to improving their humaneness. The UK delegation to the workshop was led by Professor Sir Colin Spedding, a previous chairman of the Farm Animal Welfare Council and an internationally recognised authority on welfare issues. The workshop produced an 11 point action plan to improve the effectiveness and humaneness of whale killing methods, including those used in aboriginal subsistence hunts. This was endorsed by the Commission in a resolution, which went on to encourage member governments to continue to submit relevant information to the IWC and to future workshops and to take steps, including the provision of appropriate technical assistance, to improve the humaneness of aboriginal subsistence whaling. The Dall's porpoise hunt off the coast of Japan is the largest directed take of small cetaceans in the world. Recent information suggests that the level of catch may not be sustainable and the IWC adopted a resolution, put forward by the UK, expressing concern about the sustainability of the hunt, directing the IWC's Scientific Committee to carry out a full review of the affected stocks in 2001 and, in the meantime, inviting the government of Japan to reconsider the quota it sets for Dall's porpoises. A number of other issues were considered. There was a discussion on whalewatching, in which I emphasised the economic benefits of this activity, particularly in the Caribbean, and drew attention to the Guidelines of Whalewatching in the UK issued by the Government. A resolution was adopted drawing attention to the risk posed to consumers of whalemeat (including meat from small cetaceans) by the high levels of contaminants found in some samples, and requesting the IWC's Scientific Committee to monitor contaminant burdens in cetaceans and, where necessary, pass the information on to the World Health Organisation and appropriate national authorities. Other resolutions were agreed requesting the Scientific Committee to develop DNA methods for monitoring the origin of whalemeat as part of a control scheme for any future whaling and drawing attention to the continued threat posed to small populations of highly endangered whales by ship strikes, by-catches, and in a limited number of cases, whaling. Overall, this was a successful meeting for the UK. We achieved all our main objectives, and made progress towards our ultimate goals. My presence at the meeting underlined the importance that the Government attach to their policy of opposing whaling and to the role of the IWC.

Date

9 June 1999

Reference

332 c348-50W; 86331

House

House of Commons

Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations have been made by Her Majesty's Government to those countries that are seeking to increase their whaling operations.

Asked by

Nigel Waterson (Conservative)

Answering body

Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

11 February 1999

Reference

70205; 325 c361-2W

House

House of Commons

Librarians' tools

Type

House

Session

Year

Department

Member

Primary member

Answering member

Legislative stage

Legislation

Subject

Publisher