HL Deb 20 November 1986 vol 482 cc428-9WA
Lord Gainford

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will make a statement about recent official contacts with the British branch of the Hungarian Freedom Fighters Association.

Lord Trefgarne

The President of the British Branch of the Hungarian Freedom Fighters Association wrote last month to my right honourable friend the Prime Minister to express the thanks of members of the association for the practical help given by the British Government and people to members of the association after the Hungarian uprising of 1956. In her reply, the Prime Minister expressed her appreciation. She drew attention to the public statement which my honourable friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. Tim Renton) made on 24th October in connection with the anniversary of the uprising, and the appeal issued earlier the same week by over 100 individuals in various countries of Central and Eastern Europe, which stressed the need for greater freedom and openness.