§ Commander LOCKER-LAMPSONasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the Soviet Government has compelled, or persuaded, certain of their nationals in Russia to give the Soviet their powers of attorney to act for them in England respecting the allocation of money in England; and whether steps will be taken, by negotiation or otherwise, to protect Russians in this country against having their property in England taken from them under any such instruments executed in a foreign country and without their consent?
§ The PRIME MINISTERRussians living in this country cannot be deprived of their property in England except by1148W lawful process in the English courts: no such general measure of protection as my hon. and gallant Friend suggests appears, therefore, to be required. In any case where there was reason to suspect that pressure had been brought to bear on Soviet citizens in the Soviet Union in order to induce them to transfer property from this country, the Government would take such steps as were possible to ensure that persons having the custody of such property in this country were made aware of the position.