asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make representations to the USSR on its confiscation of registered mail sent to Soviet citizens, in the light of the Helsinki agreement.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will raise with the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics the question of registered mail sent to the USSR by United Kingdom citizens which does not reach its destination.

Under the terms of the Universal Postal Convention the Soviet authorities can confiscate without compensation postal articles whose importation and circulation is prohibited within the Soviet Union. However, they are required by the Convention to notify the originating Post Office if any article is not delivered or returned to the sender. Her Majesty's Government deplore any interference with freedom of communication, particularly in view of the Final Act of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe. The Soviet authorities are already aware of the importance that Her Majesty's Government attach to Governments acting in accordance with all the provisions of the Final Act.