§ Mr. Moonmanasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now make a further statement on his policy 46W towards the holding of the 1980 Olympics in Moscow, in the light of the recent comments of Mr. Sergei Pavolov, Soviet Minister of Sport and deputy chairman of the 1980 Olympics Organising Committee, contradicting previous assurances concerning attendance by all nations, details of which have been sent to him.
§ Mr. Denis HowellThe details which my hon. Friend has sent me do not call for a further statement. He knows from previous correspondence and from the recent Adjournment debate that Government policy is that the choice of venue for the Olympic games is entirely a matter for the International Olympic Committee—IOC. The games are held under its rules and it is for the committee to ensure strict compliance by the host city. These rules include participation by all member countries of the IOC, which principle it is my understanding has been accepted by the hosts for 1980.