asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if Her Majesty's Government will support any moves at the international whaling conference next week to postpone from 1990 to 1999 the zero catch limits on killing for commercial purposes.

Under paragraph 10(e) of the Schedule to the international convention for the regulation of whaling 1947 the zero catch limits for commercial whaling are of indefinite duration. This provision is to be kept under review and by 1990 at the latest the International Whaling Commission is to undertake a comprehensive assessment of its effect on whale stocks and consider modification of this provision and the establishment of other catch limits. We shall carefully consider any proposals in the light of developments.