HL Deb 18 June 1984 vol 453 cc6-8

2.51 p.m.

Lord Molloy

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

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will make representations to the Soviet Government, and encourage other governments to do likewise, concerning their treatment of Andrei Sakharov, the Nobel prize-winner, and his wife Yelena Bonner.

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Young)

My Lords, we have repeatedly made clear to the Soviet authorities our concern at the treatment of Dr. Sakharov and his wife, Mrs Yelena Bonner. My right honourable and learned friend raised the question with Mr. Gromyko in January. On his recent visit to Moscow, my right honourable friend the Minister of State for Trade spoke to a senior Soviet Minister of British concern about the latest disturbing developments. We remain in close contact with other like-minded governments. Following an initiative of the United Kingdom, in the Ten, the Presidency made a démarche to Mr. Gromyko in May. We will continue to seek ways of helping Dr. and Mrs. Sakharov.

Lord Molloy

My Lords, is the noble Baroness aware that is a most welcome and encouraging response to the Question that I put down, which will give great encouragement not only to Dr. Sakharov and his wife but to all decent people thoughout the world? Is she further aware that Dr. Sakharov at this moment in time is being forcibly fed, and that his wife, who has a serious heart condition, is being refused medicament from the people other than Russians? This attitude of the Soviet Union is devoid of any sense of compassion and, what is more, is bereft of any civilised behaviour of ordinary people throughout the world. Would she not agree it is right that our Government should progress and make further representations so that this appalling situation and treatment of these two human beings—one being a Nobel prize-winner—should be brought to an end, and that they should be afforded normal, civilised attitudes.

Baroness Young

My Lords, as I indicated in my original Answer to the noble Lord, we have repeatedly made clear to the Soviet authorities our concern about the treatment of Dr. Sakharov. As I am sure the noble Lord will appreciate, it would not he appropriate for me to disclose any particular points of an agenda which my right honourable friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary might raise when he visits Moscow in July; but clearly my right honourable friend will have these developments in mind.

Lord Jenkins of Putney

My Lords, is the noble Baroness aware that, as she has said, any abuse of human rights is to be condemned wherever it occurs? But is it not the case that it is even more offensive when it occurs in parts of the so-called free world? Would she not agree that the gross abuse of human rights in Turkey, a NATO country, is equally strongly to be condemned? Are the Government taking similar action in these cases?

Baroness Young

My Lords, I have made clear in your Lordships' House on several occasions that Her Majesty's Government condemn the violation of human rights wherever this may occur.

Lord Molloy

My Lords, is the noble Baroness aware that her last remark will be welcomed very much indeed, and that one cannot claim to be a standard-bearer of civilised behaviour if it only applies to one particular part of the world and not to others? Is she further aware that if her right honourable friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary can make representations to the Soviet Union on behalf of these two people, of all those millions in the world, then perhaps they will make representation in other parts of the world whenever civilised human behaviour is threatened, abused and savaged?

Baroness Young

My Lords, I am not absolutely clear that I followed the precise question the noble Lord has asked; but we have, in the case of Dr. Sakharov and Mrs. Bonner, followed events very closely and we have repeatedly made our views known to the Soviet authorities.

Lord Molloy

My Lords, is the noble Baroness aware that it would be welcome if the Foreign Secretary were to make representations to the Soviet Union on behalf of these two human beings, and then later, if necessary, to any other part of the world which denies its people the standards which we enjoy in Great Britain?

Baroness Young

My Lords, in answer to the noble Lord's first supplementary question I think that I did make clear that although it would not be appropriate to disclose the detailed points of an agenda in advance of the visit to Moscow by my right honourable friend, I have no doubt that he will have in mind the developments that have been raised by the noble Lord.