§ Mr. Whiteasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in the Official Report as much information as is in his possession about the health of Anatoly Shcharansky; when was the last time he raised this matter with the Soviet Government; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RifkindMr. Shcharansky remains in Perm "35" labour camp where he is serving a 10-year sentence. He suffers from a heart condition which has been exacerbated by numerous periods of solitary confinement and several hunger strikes since his imprisonment in 1977. According to his mother, who visited him in January, he has just spent nine weeks in hospital and his general health remained poor.
My right hon. and learned Friend last raised Mr. Shcharansky's case with Mr. Gromyko during his visit to Moscow in July 1984. More recently my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister raised the case with Mr. Gorbachev when he visited Britain in December.