§ 20. Mr. Osborneasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the jamming by Soviet authorities of the British Broadcasting Corporation's broadcasts in Russian; and what representations he has made recently to have this practice ended.
§ Mr. Ian HarveyInterference lessened last year between 18th April and 28th October. Then, during the Hungarian rising, jamming was resumed at full strength. It has remained intense ever since. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made representations, in his recent letter to Mr. Bulganin, about jamming and other Russian restrictions on freedom of information and travel. But the Soviet authorities show no signs at present of ending jamming.
§ Mr. OsborneMay I ask the Joint Under-Secretary of State two questions? Have the Russian authorities given Her Majesty's Government any indication why they are afraid of their people listening to B.B.C. broadcasts? Secondly, will my hon. Friend promise to persist in trying to get this jamming stopped?
§ Mr. HarveyThe answer to the first part of the supplementary question is "No", Sir. In fact, the Russians have on several occasions jammed their own leaders when speaking over the B.B.C.
§ Mr. StokesIt is a pity we do not jam some of our own leaders.
§ Mr. HarveyThe answer to the second part of the question is "Yes" Sir.