HC Deb 12 July 1971 vol 821 cc30-1
42. Mr. Dykes

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's latest representations to the Soviet authorities, following the recent. Court decisions in the Soviet Union affecting Jewish citizens who wish to emigrate to Israel.

Mr. Kershaw

During his recent visit to Moscow the Permanent Under-Secretary at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office informed a senior Soviet official of the concern felt in Britain at reports about trials of Soviet Jews, from which Western journalists have been excluded.

Mr. Dykes

Without any disrespect to the Permanent Under-Secretary of State, would my hon. Friend see to it that this is done again at a higher level, so that there may be made quite clear to the Soviet Union, which does not appear to be as insensitive to public opinion abroad as perhaps some may imagine, the total abhorrence felt in this country at what his happening to Jews?

Mr. Kershaw

My hon. Friend will know that my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has done this a number of times in this country, and our representative at the United Nations has also made himself absolutely clear about it.