ICELANDIC COMMERCIAL WHALING

Early day motion 1420, tabled 24 April 2008 by Diane Abbott (Labour). Signed by 68 members.

That this House is concerned about reports in the Icelandic media that whaling may be resumed in the country; notes that commercial whaling in Iceland was halted in 2007 after a decision by the Icelandic government that there was not enough demand for whale meat; further notes that in a recent Gallup poll 66 per cent. of Icelanders agreed that if the market was poor, whaling should not be resumed; recognises that Iceland now has a profitable whale-watching industry worth £10 million a year in 2007; is further concerned that a resumption of whaling will damage Iceland's international reputation and could affect tourism and whale-watching in Iceland; and calls on the Prime Minister to encourage Icelandic Prime Minister Geir Haarde and the Icelandic government not to issue new whaling quotas.

Signatures by party: Labour 42, Liberal Democrat 13, Conservative 3, DUP 2, Independent 2, Scottish National Party 2, Social Democratic and Labour Party 2, Plaid Cymru 1, UKIP 1.