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Mr. Heffer
asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will make representations to the Soviet Government to urge them to release the Podrabinck brothers, in view of their ill health; and if Her Majesty's Government's representative will raise the matter with the Soviet delegation to the European Security Conference in Madrid as a matter of urgency.
Mr. Humphrey Atkins
The Government deplore Soviet violations of human rights and noted with concern the re-sentencing of the Podrabinck brothers in 1981 and the further deterioration of their health. The leader of the British delegation to the Madrid review meeting drew these cases to the attention of the head of the Soviet delegation in December. We shall continue to take suitable opportunities to raise their plight.