To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with representatives of other Governments on whaling since the last meeting of the International Whaling Commission; when he next plans to discuss whaling with foreign counterparts; and with whom. (120586)

I have raised the issue of whaling at every appropriate opportunity with members of the International Whaling Commission (IWC).

In support of the UK's position I also raised the issue of IWC membership at a recent meeting of EU Environment Ministers in Luxembourg and sent copies of our recent publication “Protecting Whales—A Global Responsibility” to 57 countries, both anti and pro-whaling, encouraging them to join the effort to protect these species.

DEFRA officials also ensure that Foreign and Commonwealth Office posts in the relevant capitals are briefed, and engage in discussion with their counterparts on whaling at every appropriate opportunity. This ensures that these countries are in no doubt of the importance that the UK attaches to whale conservation.

The UK will continue to make clear our objections to those countries that support whaling, both before and during the next annual meeting of the IWC in Alaska in May.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with (a) Ministers, (b) officials in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and (c) Cabinet colleagues on whaling over the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement. (120588)

Since the last annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC), I have written to colleagues in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department for International Development and the Department of Trade and Industry encouraging them to lobby countries to join the IWC and also to stress to those countries that continue to support whaling the importance the UK attaches to whale conservation.

I asked that they particularly point to the significant economic and social benefits arising from both whale conservation and the whale-watching industry and to express the view that the decision to resume or support the resumption of commercial whaling could seriously undermine those benefits.

The Secretary of State has also had correspondence with the Prime Minister on this matter, resulting in the latter's agreeing to sign a foreword to the DEFRA leaflet “Protecting Whales—A Global Responsibility” published recently.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) when he next intends to discuss the international moratorium on whaling with representatives of the Governments of (a) Dominica, (b) Gabon, (c) Gambia, (d) Grenada, (e) Kiribati, (f) Mali, (g) the Marshall Islands, (h) Mauritania, (i) Mongolia, (j) Morocco, (k) Nauru, (l) Nicaragua, (m) Norway, (n) Palau, (o) the Russian Federation, (p) St Kitts and Nevis, (q) St Lucia, (r) St Vincent and the Grenadines, (s) Senegal, (t) the Solomon Islands, (u) Suriname, (v) Togo, (w) Tuvalu, (x) Korea, (y) Iceland and (z) Guinea; (120520)

I have raised the issue of whaling at every appropriate opportunity with pro-whaling members of the IWC. In support of the UK's position I also raised the issue of IWC membership at a recent meeting of EU Environment Ministers in Luxembourg and sent copies of our recent publication “Protecting Whales—A Global Responsibility” to 57 countries, both anti and pro-whaling, encouraging them to join the effort to protect these species.

DEFRA officials also ensure that Foreign and Commonwealth Office posts in the relevant capitals are briefed, and engage in discussion with their counterparts on whaling at every appropriate opportunity. This ensures that these countries are in no doubt of the importance that the UK attaches to whale conservation.

The UK will continue to make clear our objections to those countries that support whaling, both before and during the next annual meeting of the IWC in Alaska in May.