§ Mr. Masonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his estimate of the number of Jews who were allowed to leave the Soviet Union in February 1987.
§ Mr. RentonAccording to our information, 146. This is a slight increase over the figure for January, but falls well short of expectations. We shall continue to press for significant improvement.
§ Mr. Masonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has ascertained the reasons why visas were refused to a delegation of British Members 48W of Parliament who wished to visit the Soviet Union to witness a presentation of honours to Russian Jews; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RentonThe Soviet authorities said that they regarded the presentation of these awards as a provocative action. We have made it clear that we do not accept this. Her Majesty's Ambassador in Moscow expressed his great regret that visas had not been forthcoming for the delegation.
§ Mr. Masonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Russian Jews who were to be honoured by the all-party Parliamentary Committee on Soviet Jewry have yet been to the British Embassy in Moscow to receive their awards; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RentonHer Majesty's Ambassador in Moscow presented the awards on behalf of the all-party parliamentary committee on 23 February at a ceremony held at the Embassy. Iosif Begun, who was only released from prison that day, was unable to attend. All others to whom the award had been made attended.