HC Deb 24 October 1985 vol 84 cc244-5W
Mr. Bendall

asked 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 Elena Gurevich of the Soviet Union; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Rifkind

The case of Elena Gurevich and her family is known to us, although our information is somewhat incomplete. Miss Gurevich, who is now 21, and her parents have been trying to leave the Soviet Union for Israel since 1974. Their applications have, however, been consistently refused on the grounds that Mrs. Gurevich has had access to classified information as a messenger in an institute which tracked sputniks. We are not aware of any recent reapplication by the family.