HC Deb 03 August 1978 vol 955 cc559-60W
Sir Bernard Braine

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Hastings (Mr. Warren), Official Report, 24th July, column 603, why, since most of the facts are now known about the forcible repatriation of Soviet prisoners of war and civilians and others who were not Soviet citizens, in the period 1944 to 1947, he has decided to withhold six sets of departmental papers as being too sensitive for the public to read; why, after this length of time, the facts still cannot be revealed; and if he will make a statement.

Dr. Owen

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave on 31st July to the hon. Member for Hastings (Mr. Warren) which concerned four of these papers. The other two papers are still under consideration.