HC Deb 20 October 1976 vol 917 cc1426-9
11. Mr. Sproat

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement on the implementation of the Helsinki Agreement.

14. Mr. Younger

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made up to the present time in implementing the detailed provisions of the Helsinki Agreement; and if he will make a statement.

The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. John Tomlinson)

As I said on 28th July, we believe that some progress is being achieved in bringing existing practices into line with the Final Act provisions, although a proper assessment must wait until the Belgrade Review Conference next year. The most recent developments have been the notification by Poland of a large military manoeuvre involving Soviet, East German and Czechoslovak as well as Polish forces, and by Her Majesty's Government of a military manoeuvre, Exercise Spearpoint, which is due to be held in the Federal Republic of Germany from 2nd to 11th November.

Mr. Sproat

What is the state of British preparations and combined Western preparations for Belgrade? Will the Minister give us an assurance that this meeting will be at a political level and not merely a meeting of officials? What evaluation has the hon. Gentleman made of the charge that is increasingly heard that the transfer of Western technology to the Soviet Union under detente is enabling the Soviet Union to free resources which it can then spend on military and other purposes hostile to the West?

Mr. Tomlinson

All these matters are far more appropriate to the review conference, and it is far too early for the Government to state what will be their negotiating position for the conference.

Mr. Whitehead

When my hon. Friend and his colleagues at the Foreign Office had the task of entertaining the Czechoslovak Foreign Minister during the parliamentary recess, did the question of the Helsinki Agreement come up? What undertakings did Her Majesty's Government receive about the implementation of the agreement in Czechoslovakia, particularly concerning personal liberty and the freedom of the Press?

Mr. Tomlinson

That matter occupied a substantial part of the discussions dur- ing the Foreign Minister's visit. Her Majesty's Government's view, particularly about 11 human rights cases, was put forcibly, and substantial progress was made in relation to those cases.

Mr. Younger

Will the review conference cover the disappointing progress made towards the freer exchange of information to the public of the Soviet Union and the West? If the position is no better by the time of the Belgrade Conference, will the Government take a strong line and give no further concessions until real progress has been shown on this matter?

Mr. Tomlinson

The conference will cover all aspects of the Final Act, and I repeat that Her Majesty's Government will not be satisfied until all the requirements of the Final Act have been put into operation by the signatory States. All these matters will be contained within the review conference.

Mr. Frank Allaun

Did not the Helsinki Agreement aim to promote mutual disarmament? Will Her Majesty's Government respond favourably to the new Soviet proposal this year for a mutual reduction in forces and in missiles, which could, I think, break the two-year deadlock which is holding things up so badly?

Mr. Tomlinson

The Government are willing to consider any proposals put to them, but this is obviously a matter of detailed negotiation, in which we have to be satisfied that there is a mutual reduction in forces and that it is not a one-sided package.

Mr. Hurd

The Helsinki Agreement mentioned the notification of manoeuvres. Can the hon. Gentleman confirm that the Soviet Union announced on Monday that it proposes to hold an other series of missile tests in the Barents Sea, despite the fact that this is a zone disputed with Norway and despite the protests of our Norwegian ally? Were these tests notified in accordance with the Helsinki Agreement? If not, what are the Government going to do about it?

Mr. Tomlinson

The detail of that supplementary question does not arise directly from the Question on the Order Paper, but notification is an obligation. I should require notice of the further details mentioned by the hon. Gentleman.