To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what reports she has received on the recent slaughter and sale of dolphins off the Japanese coast; (125722)

My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has made no assessment and has had no meetings.

Stock assessments of whales and small cetaceans are the responsibility of the International Whaling Commission (IWC), of which the UK is an active member. The UK opposes the hunting of dolphins and porpoises by Japan and regularly raises the matter with Japanese representatives at the IWC.