MILITARY SONAR AND WHALES

Early day motion 793, tabled 28 February 2005 by Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 59 members.

That this House notes the growing international concern regarding the impact of noise pollution upon the marine environment; further notes the installation of the military active sonar 'Sonar 2087' onto HMS Westminster, and the Royal Navy's plan to install this system on six more Type 23 frigates between 2005 and 2008; is concerned at growing evidence of the potentially harmful impact of powerful sonars on marine life, such as whales and dolphins, including the death or displacement of individuals and populations; and calls on the Government to allow for a full and rigorous public review of the environmental impact of Sonar 2087, including an analysis of the extent of independent environmental scrutiny, before further testing and deployment of Sonar 2087 is allowed to commence.

Signatures by party: Labour 32, Liberal Democrat 19, Labour/Co-operative 3, Plaid Cymru 3, Conservative 1, UUP 1.