On Thursday 4th February, Mr Ainsworth questioned the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Huw Irranca-Davies, on whaling during DEFRA oral questions.

Mr Ainsworth said he felt “compelled” to ask the Government whether it would be instrumental in seeking an to end to whaling and what recent assessment had been made about the effectiveness of the Whaling Commission.

Mr Ainsworth said:

"There are important talks coming up in March in which the British Government has the chance to stand up to pressure from other countries to legalise the killing of whales. The Minister's response to my question suggests that the UK will do the right thing. But we should all watch closely. The way that humans treat other species is a defining revelation of the extent to which we are civilised, or not. It is simply wrong to kill endangered species in the name of "science", or for any other reason. I want our Government to take a strong position on this issue, and to stand up for wildlife."

The full text of Mr Ainsworth’s questions and the Minister’s replies can be seen in Hansard:

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmhansrd/cm100204/debtext/100204-0001.htm#column_433