HL Deb 09 July 1979 vol 401 cc742-3WA
Lord CHELWOOD

asked Her Majesty's Government:

When and where the " trial " of ten members of the Czechoslovak Committee for the Defence of the Unjustly Prosecuted (V.O.N.S.) will take place; with what they are charged other than drawing their Government's attention to breaches of the human rights clauses of the Helsinki Final Act; by whom they will be defended and whether they will have an observer at the trial.

Lord CARRINGTON

The Czechoslovak authorities have made no official announcement of charges, nor of a date or place for any trial. If these cases came to trial lawyers would be appointed by the court for any defendants not having their own counsel. The British Government have made representations to the Czechoslovak Government about these arrests and the need for full implementation of the Helsinki Final Act. We shall consider sending an observer to any trial.