HC Deb 18 July 1978 vol 954 c150W
Mr. Viggers

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list in detail in the Official Report the action which Her Majesty's Government have taken to reflect the damage to détente caused by the trials of Alexander Ginzburg and Anatoly Shcharansky in the Soviet Union.

Mr. Luard

These trials and Soviet actions against other human rights campaigners make it much more difficult to maintain constructive relations with the Soviet Union. My right hon. Friend expressed the outrage that they have caused to British opinion and the damage to East-West relations in his statement to the House on 10th July and in his advice that the visit of the Soviet Minister for the Coal Industry should be postponed.

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