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.

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.