HC Deb 05 February 1970 vol 795 cc620-1
Q6. Mr. Winnick

asked the Prime Minister what plans he now has to pay an official visit to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

The Prime Minister

I have no firm plans at present, Sir.

Mr. Winnick

Is my right hon. Friend aware that all Government contact between East and West is welcome? May I ask him about the message which the Soviet Government sent him on the Middle East, and the Government's attitude towards the situation there?

The Prime Minister

The House will be aware that the Soviet Ambassador called on me two days ago with a personal letter from Premier Kosygin. I have replied to that today, and I hope that it will be in Mr. Kosygin's hands before tonight.

Sir A. V. Harvey

What progress has been made with the treaty of friendship with the Soviet Union, which the Prime Minister promised the House some years ago but about which we do not hear very much these days?

The Prime Minister

I reported on it some little time afterwards. Our hopes on some of the issues that we wanted to see included and our general contacts were very much set back by the situation in Czechoslovakia 18 months ago. We have now resumed direct Ministerial contact. We have made considerable progress on one or two aspects of the treaty, particularly with regard to the signature of the technological agreement.