asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in view of the evidence now available for declining population of sperm whales in a number of areas, if he will seek to ban the import of sperm whale oil into the United Kingdom.

In formulating their policy on the import of sperm whale oil, the Government take account of the decisions of the International Whaling Commission. The scientific committee of the International Whaling Commission will assess North Pacific and Southern Hemisphere sperm whale stocks later this month and report to a special meeting of the commission in December.