Whats He Done Now.

[Lonan3]

Trade delegations and cultural exchanges can, and frequently do, bring economic benefits. Most of the long-term gains from things are probably not too visible, but that doesn't mean that they don't exist.

It is all very well to adopt a moral stance about whale-hunting (which, incidentally, I happen to find abhorrent), but the simple fact is that if we refused to trade with all the countries whose customs, culture, political systems etc that we disagreed with, we would end up being a tiny, insignificant and extremely isolated island.

I think it's well to remember that it's only when your friends disapprove of what you're doing that you tend to take real notice. Protests about whale hunting will only be effective when it's the people that the Norwegians respect and trade with make them.

As for the cost - I'll bet it was a good deal less than if we'd sent a delegation of our own MHKs and so on to Norway!