HC Deb 29 April 1980 vol 983 cc475-6W
Mr. Michael Brown

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will propose to the United Nations General Assembly a motion to expel from membership of that body Byelo-Russia and the Ukraine in furtherance of the policy of securing a Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Mr. Hurd

Expulsions from the United Nations can take place only on the recommendation of the Security Council, where the Soviet veto applies. Members of both the Security Council and the General Assembly have already had opportunities to make clear their condemnation of Soviet armed intervention in Afghanistan. Since then the Nine have put forward a proposal for a neutral and non-aligned Afghanistan based on a suggestion made by my right hon. and noble Friend. We continue to work to this end.