asked Her Majesty's Government:

What plans they have to respond to the pro-whaling majority at the recent International Whaling Commission meeting in St. Kitts.[HL7304]

We shall continue to encourage more conservation-minded countries to join the International Whaling Commission (IWC) as soon as possible, in order to reverse the pro-whaling majority in the commission.

The United Kingdom raises the issue of whaling at every appropriate opportunity and our posts abroad will be lobbying the Governments of pro-whaling IWC members to seek support from their host countries for the UK's position on whaling. The prominent role we play within the IWC ensures no country can be in any doubt as to the importance we attach to whale conservation.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will encourage other European Union member states to join the International Whaling Commission and to support the moratorium on commercial whaling and other whale conservation policies.[HL7305]

My honourable friend the Minister for Local Environment, Marine and Animal Welfare (Ben Bradshaw), has recently written to the Environment Ministers of all European Union member states that are not currently members of the International Whaling Commission (IWC), and to all those seeking accession to the EU, to encourage support for the (IWC) moratorium on commercial whaling, and for the UK’s policies on whaling.

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 places on whale conservation.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the United Kingdom delegation to the International Whaling Commission (IWC), or any of the scientists on that delegation, support proposals to deal with scientific whaling by having catch limits in line with the revised management procedure agreed by the IWC.[HL7306]

Neither the United Kingdom delegation to the International Whaling Commission (IWC) nor any scientist on that delegation would accept that the procedure cited by the noble Lord would adequately control lethal research whaling. Those Governments which currently authorise scientific whaling have so far refused to recognise that the right to undertake such whaling (as provided for in Article VIII of the IWC’s parent treaty) should be restricted in any way by the introduction of the revised management scheme for the regulation of whaling. Lack of agreement on this front is one of the more significant obstacles to the progress of negotiations on the revised management scheme.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will provide financial support for the proposed International Whaling Commission scientific workshop in 2008 on the effects of climate change on whales.[HL7308]

The UK contributes to all such workshops through its annual subscription to the International Whaling Commission. At present, the Government do not plan to provide any further financial support to this particular workshop.