HC Deb 31 July 1974 vol 878 c197W
26. Mr. Goodhew

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on whose authority, and for what reasons, the new Government Secretary for St. Helena arrived to take up his post on the island in a Russian ship.

Mr. Hattersley

The new Government Secretary was required in St. Helena before 31st March but could not leave because of other duties until the end of February. There were no British sailings from the United Kingdom during this period. Accordingly the Governor authorised a passage in "Leonid Sobinov", a Russian ship under British charter.