HC Deb 23 January 1987 vol 108 cc776-7W
Mr. Terlezki

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the total number of Soviet personnel at present working at the Russian embassy in London; how many British personnel are employed at the Russian embassy in London; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Eggar

The total number of Soviet personnel at present working at the Soviet embassy in London is 72. We are not aware of any British staff working at the embassy.

Mr. Terlezki

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the total number of British personnel in the British embassy in Moscow; how many Russian personnel are employed at the embassy in Moscow; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Eggar

There are currently 74 British and 72 Soviet personnel employed at the British embassy in Moscow.

Mr. Terlezki

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the latest development in the reallocation of a site and building of a new British embassy in Moscow; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Eggar

Negotiations with the Soviet Government over the reciprocal provision of embassy sites in London and Moscow have taken place, intermittently, over many years. In May 1986, the two sides initialled the text of a sites exchange agreement under which there would be a (cost free) exchange of two sites in Moscow for two sites in London. Our objective is to sign this agreement soon, but the Soviet side has not yet been willing to proceed to signature.