§ Mr. Geraint Howellsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he is satisfied that the Conference for Security and Co-operation in Europe review conference which ended in Madrid in September has produced any improvement in the Soviet Union's treatment of religious minorities.
§ Sir Geoffrey HoweI regret to say that there is no evidence of any change in the Soviet Government's human rights record since the conclusion of the Madrid conference whether in relation to religious minorities, treatment of individuals confined to mental institutions or, in any other regard. But, together with our allies and partners, we shall continue to follow closely the Soviet Union's actions and take suitable opportunities to draw the Soviet authorities' attention to their commitments undertaken at Helsinki and Madrid.