§ Mr. Sackvilleasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has made representations to the Soviet Government concerning the five-year sentence of internal exile following ten years in labour camps, passed on Mrs. Oksana Mehko, founder member of the Ukranian Helsinki Monitoring Group.
§ Mr. LuceMy right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and my right hon. and learned Friend both raised the subject of human rights with Mr. Gorbachev in December. They made clear with reference to individuals exemplifying different categories of human rights abuse the concern that is felt on this issue by the Government, on both sides of the House and by the British public at large. The case of Mrs. Mehko is a particularly poignant example of such abuses and will certainly be borne in mind, along with others, in future representations to the Soviet authorities.