§ Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the extent of the jamming of BBC broadcasts by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and by other countries; what representations have been made, particularly in view of Basket III of the Helsinki Agreement; and with what result.
§ Mr. LuardThe only current jamming of BBC external broadcasts to Europe is intermittently directed at certain frequencies carrying programmes in Czech and Slovak.
We have made no formal representations on this matter since the signing of the Final Act of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe; but the Governments concerned are well aware that the provisions relating to the freer dissemination of information are an intrinsic part of the Final Act and we shall take appropriate opportunities to make clear that we expect all the signatories to honour their obligations.