asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement about the expiry on 30 September of the European ban on the import of baby seal products.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Renfrew, West and Inverclyde (Mrs. McCurley) on 9 July, at column 395. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister had previously made clear our support for an extension of the ban on conservation grounds in her reply to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Rutland and Melton (Mr. Latham) on 21 June, at column 230.I hope that agreement will be reached soon in the European Council on an extension of the ban.