§ Mr. Lawrenceasked the Lord Privy Seal if he will list the sanctions imposed by the United Kingdom Government on the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics following the latter's invasion of Afghanistan; how many of those sanctions are still in operation; and to what extent.
§ Mr. HurdThe following measures were taken after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan:
- (i) The 1975 Anglo-Soviet credit agreement which expired in February 1980 was not renewed. Credit was to be considered on a case by case basis. But normal trade which was to mutual advantage was to continue;
- (ii) Following discussions with other countries the COCOM rules for controlling the transfer of sensitive technology to the Soviet Union were to be applied more tightly;
- (iii) The European Community decided not to export to the Soviet Union any agricultural produce which would directly or indirectly replace supplies denied by the United States;
- (iv) High level and ministerial contacts with the Soviet Union were to be avoided for the time being;
- (v) Military exchanges which were under consideration were to be cancelled;
- (vi) Cultural and other events of a nature which could give an impression that nothing had changed were to be avoided;
- (vii) After consultation with the BBC, broadcasts by the external services to listeners in the Soviet Union and Afghanistan were to be increased.
The procedures for lifting the restrictions on Community food sales, which were imposed in support of the United States embargo, were completed on 30 April. There are now occasional high level and ministerial contacts where these are deemed advantageous. The other measures remain in force.