§ Mr. McMahonasked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a statement on the renegotiation of the 1959 Anglo-Soviet cultural agreement; what is his estimate of the effect of the agreement in educational, scientific and cultural fields; and what provisions he intends to seek in any renegotiated agreement.
§ Mr. BlakerThe new Anglo-Soviet cultural agreement for the period from 1 April 1981 to 31 March 1983 has just been negotiated in Moscow and was signed there today. The cultural agreement regulates and facilitates routine exchanges between people in the educational, scientific and cultural fields and is an effective vehicle for this purpose. The new agreement follows the pattern of its predecessors. These agreements are a means of projecting Britain and British values in the Soviet Union.
§ Mr. McMahonasked the Lord Privy Seal in the planning of what forthcoming Anglo-Soviet events, including sporting events, Her Majesty's Government have been involved.
§ Mr. BlakerThe Government have not been involved in the planning of any forthcoming Anglo-Soviet sporting events. In other fields where contacts are not at the Government-to-Government level, Her Majesty's Government have been involved in the planning of the next meeting of the Anglo-Soviet Round Table, due to be held in Moscow in November, and of an exchange of touring book exhibitions with the USSR later this year.