The final petition is from Councillor James MacCleary and others of like disposition and concerns the practice of the Japanese Government of influencing other countries—inappropriately, the petitioners believe—to support Japan’s position in negotiations at the International Whaling Commission to end the moratorium on whaling.

The petition states:

Wherefore your Petitioners pray that your honourable House shall urge the Foreign Office and the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to make representations to the Japanese Government, and all of her client states on the International Whaling Commission, to refrain from removing the international moratorium on commercial whaling.

And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray.

To lie upon the Table.

(Penrith and The Border) (Con): On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. The hon. Member for Lewes (Norman Baker) has a reputation for taking a high-minded view on freedom of information. Doubt has been cast on the number of signatures on the petitions and their validity. Will he publish them or—

Order. I have already ruled on that point of order. Let me repeat the ruling: if petitions are being presented in this House, they meet all the necessary requirements.