HL Deb 08 February 1982 vol 427 c83WA
Lord Orr-Ewing

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What progress was made in the implementation by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Eastern European countries of the provisions of the Helsinki Final Act during the last six months.

Lord Trefgarne

During the last six month period until 31st December 1981 implementation by the Soviet Union and Eastern European countries of their commitments under the Helsinki Final Act became gradually worse. There were major violations after the imposition of martial law in Poland on 13th December. Before then, implementation in Poland had improved. Events in Poland seem to have made the Soviet Union and other East European countries less willing to carry out their obligations.

The Soviet Union, and to a lesser degree Czechoslovakia and the German Democratic Republic (GDR), sought earlier to influence events in Poland in a manner contrary to the Final Act. This pressure took various forms and was exercised by the governments of these countries and by officially-controlled organisations.