HL Deb 06 May 1975 vol 360 cc194-5
Lord SUDELEY

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 what controls exist over diplomats, and others attached to the Soviet Embassy in Dublin, travelling between Eire and the United Kingdom.

Lord WELLS-PESTELL

My Lords, a foreign national who needs a visa to enter the United Kingdom is not exempt from this requirement if he arrives on a local journey from the Republic of Ireland. Soviet diplomats accredited to the Republic do not enjoy immunity in this country and accordingly have to have visas if they wish to come here. In this way, the noble Lord and your Lordships may be assured, a proper control is exercised.

Lord SUDELEY

My Lords, while thanking the Minister for that Answer, may I ask whether he would agree that the Soviet KGB is likely to exploit this channel to the maximum extent in its attempt to regroup after the expulsion of 105 of its diplomatic agents from this country four years ago?

Lord WELLS-PESTELL

My Lords, the noble Lord will appreciate that I can only answer questions which have some relation, perhaps, to fact, and I am sure the House would not expect me to reply to that question.