To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had with the Norwegian Foreign Minister on (a) Norway's expansion of its commercial whaling programme and (b) Norway's support for Japan's attempts to gain a simple majority at the International Whaling Commission; and if she will make a statement. (76993)

The UK's opposition to Norway's commercial whaling programme has been consistent and strong. In April 2006, the UK led a demarche against Norway's announcement of a record increase in the number of North Atlantic minke whales they plan to catch this year. We will continue to fight vigorously at the International Whaling Commission to oppose whaling activities. The focus of the recent meeting between my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and her Norwegian counterpart was Iran and the Middle East. Whaling was not discussed.