HL Deb 11 December 1974 vol 355 cc635-7

2.34 p.m.

Lord CHELWOOD

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will use their influence to ensure that the comunique issued after the end of the Conference on Security and Co-operation includes in full the assurances which have been sought and obtained from the Soviet Government regarding the criteria and practices that will henceforth govern emigration from the Soviet Union.

The PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY of STATE, FOREIGN and COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (Lord Goronwy-Roberts)

My Lords, the final documents of the Conference will represent agreements applicable to all 35 participating States. But we are working for texts on the freer movement of people which reflect our own view of the need to improve present practices in some of the countries concerned.

Lord CHELWOOD

My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that, taken at their face value, the promises made by Mr. Brezhnev to Dr. Kissinger, and incorporated in his long letter to Senator Jackson, are obviously of historic importance and could be of great comfort to many Soviet citizens? But are there not two tests of Soviet sincerity here: first, that these promises should be clearly incorporated in the communiqué at the end of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe; and, secondly, and more important, that they should be widely publicised in the Soviet Union itself? Otherwise, what value do they have?

Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS

My Lords, I entirely agree with the first part of the noble Lord's supplementary question. On the other two points raised, I can say this. The final documents will, if we succeed, incorporate both the thinking and the negotiations which will lead up to decisions on agreements. However, we hope to phrase them so that they do not prejudice the continuing dialogue and the continuing machinery for improvement, about which I believe I spoke last week in your Lordships' House. On the second point, we will seek to ensure that all participating countries give the widest possible dissemination to the reports of the Conference in their own countries.

Lord BROCKWAY

My Lords, while I appreciate the replies given and while I am entirely in favour of freedom of movement and information, may I ask whether it is not the case that the Soviet Union has now made a number of concessions on this point, including the free exchange of newspapers and other matters? Would it not be desirable that the Helsinki Conference should be followed by a continuing commission which could extend the freedom of movement and ideas as confidence grew?

Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS

My Lords, I have just said that we look to a continuing dialogue, possibly backed up by continuing machinery. As to the recent proposals of the Soviet Union and its associates, we have been studying these very carefully, always looking for improvements in the standards of freedom in certain countries.

Lord SUDELEY

My Lords, may I ask Her Majesty's Government why, basically, the question of emigration from the Soviet Union should be of any concern to them?

Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS

My Lords, I think that human rights of that description are of concern to everybody.