§ LORD BROCKWAYMy 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 what are the limitations to the term "freedom of movement" which the British and Western delegations at the Commissions of the European Conference of Security and Co-operation are requiring; and whether it means the unrestricted right of Communists to visit this country and of nationals of the United Kingdom to visit Eastern Europe.
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE, FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIE)My Lords, at the first stage of the Conference in July, Ministers agreed on terms of reference for the official committees which in this case require them to prepare proposals to facilitate,
freer movement and contacts … among persons, institutions and organisations of the participating states".The intention is to improve the present situation, rather than confer unrestricted rights of access.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy Lords, I thank the noble Baroness for that Answer. While many of us would want the greatest freedom of movement and ideas, does not her Answer indicate that there will inevitably be restrictions? If that is the case, cannot agreement be found between the West and the Communist countries in order to expedite the preparations for the European Conference?
§ BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIEMy Lords, some countries 900 appear to believe that the discussion to which I have referred could lead to interference in their domestic affairs. Of course this is not the purpose of the Western proposals because ours include proposals in respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy Lords, again I thank the noble Baroness. Does not that answer emphasise the point of the question which I previously asked? Is it not very desirable, in view of the acceptance of restrictions from both sides, that agreement should be reached on this matter in order that the European Conference may not be postponed? Should not priority be given to such an agreement?
§ BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIEMy Lords, I do not know whether the noble Lord, Lord Brockway, is referring to the fact that nationals of Communist countries need visas to enter the United Kingdom, and of course vice-versa. But our own requirements do not greatly restrict the freedom of movement of such travellers, some of whom still experience difficulty in getting permission to leave their own countries.