§ Mrs. Thatcherasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what further steps he proposes to take to secure the release of Mr. Gerald Brooke, who has now been detained for a period of eight weeks by the Soviet authorities although no specific charges have been preferred against him.
§ Mr. PadleyWe have continued to press the Soviet Government on this case. They informed us on 22nd June that the preliminary investigation would come to an end in the very near future, and that the case would then be transmitted for review to the Soviet judicial organs. I understand that under the Soviet legal code a case must be brought to trial, if it is decided that there are grounds for one, within about 28 days of its being sent for review.
I regret that the Soviet attitude on consular access is unsatisfactory. On 15th May the Foreign Ministry stated that Mr. Brooke, who had been seen by the Consul on 7th May, would be allowed a second meeting within one month. That period has already expired, and we are continuing to insist on our request that there should be further meetings.