JAPANESE WHALING

Early day motion 617, tabled 19 December 2001 by Lindsay Hoyle (Labour). Signed by 79 members.

That this House expresses its outrage at the whale hunting carried out by Japanese ships in the Antarctic's Southern Ocean; notes that the Southern Ocean is recognised as a no-go zone for hunters and that whaling is still banned under international law; recognises that the Japanese get round international law by claiming they are carrying out scientific research, even though it is widely known that the whalemeat will be sold for commercial purposes; further notes that the Japanese have been using overseas aid to enlist support from the Caribbean islands to support the legalisation of whaling; and calls on the British Government to do all it can at the forthcoming meeting of the International Whaling Commission to be held in Shiminoseki to highlight the disgraceful manner in which the Japanese are acting in relation to whaling and ensure that whale hunting is not legalised.

Signatures by party: Labour 58, Liberal Democrat 12, Labour/Co-operative 6, Conservative 1, Plaid Cymru 1, UUP 1.