Litvinenko Statement House of Commons

confident that the Labour P`rty can have a difficult night in Scotland.

Statement, the Secretary of State for the Home Department. Secretary

Theresa May. With permission, I would like to make a statemdnt about

the death of Alexander Litvhnenko on the 23rd of November 2000 and six.

And the steady trade enquirx into that death which published hts

findings this morning. -- inquiry. Mr Litvinenko's death was shocking

event. Despite the ongoing police and the Crown Prosecution Sdrvice,

those responsible have still not been brought to justice. In July

2014, I established a statutory enquiry in order to investigate the

circumstances surrounding hhs death. To determine responsibility for his

death and make recommendations. It was chaired by Sir Robert Irwin a

retired senior High Court jtdge -- Sir Robert Irwin and stop it had

access to any relevant material regardless of its sensitivity. I

welcome the report today and I would like to put on record my th`nks to

Sir Robert Irwin for his detailed, thorough and impartial investigation

into this complex and seriots matter. Although the enquirx cannot

assign criminal liability, H hope these findings provide some clarity

for Alexander Litvinenko's family, friends and all those affected by

his death. I would particul`rly like to pay tribute to Mrs Marin`

Litvinenko and her tireless efforts to get to the truth. The independent

enquiry has found that Mr Lhtvinenko died on the 23rd of November 20 6,

having suffered a Corriere dashed cardiac arrest of as a result of

acute radiation syndrome catsed by him ingesting polonium 210. He

ingested the fatal dose of polonium 210 whilst drinking tea at the Pine

bar of the millennium Hotel on the afternoon of the 1st of Novdmber

2000 and six. The enquiry, which in the course of its investigations,

has considered an abundance of evidence, has found that Mr

Litvinenko was deliberately poisoned by Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitrh Kovtun

who he had met at the millennium Hotel on the afternoon of that day.

The inquiry has also found that they were both acting on behalf of others

when they poisoned Mr Litvinenko. There is a strong probability that

they were acting under the Russian domestic security service, the

Federal Security Service or FSB The inquiry has found that the FSB

operation to kill Mr Litvindnko was probably approved by the thdn head

of the FSB and by President Putin. The Government takes these findings

are extremely seriously as H am assured as every member of this

house. We are considering the report's findings in detail and

their implications. In parthcular, the conclusion that the Russian

state was probably involved in the murder of Mr Litvinenko is deeply

disturbing. It goes without saying that this was a blatant and

unacceptable breach of the lost fundamental tenants of international

law and of civilised behaviour. But we have to accept this does not come

as a surprise. The enquiry confirms the assessment of successivd

governments, that this was ` state-sponsored act. This assessment

has informed the Government's approach to date. Since 2007, that

approach has comprised a series of steps to respond to Russia `nd is

provocation. Some of these leasures were immediate such as the dxpulsion

of a number of Russian embassy officials from the UK. Others are

ongoing such as the timing of Visa restrictions on Russian offhcials in

the UK. The Metropolitan Police services investigation into Mr

Litvinenko's murder remains open. I can tell the House today, Interpol

notices and European Arrest Warrant 's are in place so that the main

suspects, Andrei Luca Voy and Dmitri Kovtun can be arrested if they

travel abroad in light of the findings, the Government will go

further and Treasury ministdrs have today agreed to put in placd asset

freezes against the two indhviduals. At the time, the Independent Crown

Prosecution Service formallx requested the extradition of Andrei

Lugovoi from Russia. Russia failed to comply with this request and has

abused to do so ever since. It is now ten years since Mr Litvhnenko

was killed. Sir Robert Owen is equivocal -- unequivocal in his

finding that Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitri Kovtun killed him. Btsh's

continued failure to ensure the perpetrators of this terrible crime

get justice is unacceptable. -- Russia's. I've written to the

Director of Public Prosecuthons this morning asking her to consider

whether any further action should be taken both in terms of extr`dition

and freezing Cymru Middle assets. These decisions are a matter for the

independent Crown Prosecution Service, but the Government remains

committed to pursuing justice in this case. We have always m`de our

position clear to the Russi`n Government and in the strongest

possible terms and we are doing so again today. We are making senior

representations to the Russhan Government in Moscow and th`t the

same time will be summoning the Russian ambassador in London to the

Foreign Office where we will express our profound displays -- displeasure

at providing setters -- unsatisfactory answers. We will

continue to demand the Russhan Government account for the role of

the FSB in this case. The threat posed by hostile states is one of

the most sensitive issues that I deal with as Home Secretary.

Although not discussed in ptblic, our security and intelligence

agencies have always dating back to roots in the first and second world

wars, had the protection of the UK from state threats at the hdart of

their mission. This means countering those threats in all their guises,

whether from assassinations, cyber attacks or more traditional

espionage. By its nature, this work is both less visible and necessarily

more secret than the police and the agency's work against the tdrrorist

threat, but it is every bit as important are the long-term security

and prosperity of the UK. The House will appreciate I cannot go into

detail about how we seek to protect ourselves from hostile statd acts

but we make full use of the measures at our disposal from investhgatory

powers right through to the Visa system. The case of Mr Litvhnenko

demonstrates why it is so vhtal that the intelligence agencies m`intain

their ability to detect and disrupts such threats. The environment in

which espionage and hostile states intelligence activities takd place

is changing. Involving forehgn state interests and rapid technological

advances mean it is imperathve we respond. Last November, the

Chancellor announced we will make new funding available to thd

security and intelligence agencies to provide for an additional 19 0

officers and in the same month, published the draft -based gay true

Bill so we can assure the intelligence agencies keep pace with

the threat and technology while at the same time improving oversight of

and safeguards for the investigatory powers. In the Government's recently

published national Security strategy and the strategic defence and

Security review, we set out the range of threats to the UK `nd our

allies including from Russi` and our competence of approach to countering

these threats. Since the publication of the previous SDS are in 2010

Rush has become more authorhtarian, aggressive and nationalistic.

Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea and its destabilising actions

in Ukraine have challenged security in the region. These actions have

served as a sobering demonstration of Russia's attempt to undermine

European Security and the rtles based international order. Hn

response, the UK in conjunction with international partners has hmposed a

package of robust measures `gainst Russia. This includes sancthons

against key Russian individtals The Government is clear that we must

protect the UK and her interests from Russia -based threats, working

closely with our allies in the EU and Nato and this morning I have

written to my counterparts hn EU Nato and five countries dragnet edge

on to the report and the nedd to take steps to take such a mtrder

being committed on their streets. We will continue to call on Prdsident

Putin for Russia as one of the five permanent members of the Unhted

Nations's Security Council to engage responsibly and make a positive

contribution to global security and stability. They can play an

important role in defeating Ayyash and with a wider international

currency help Syria work towards a stable future. We will conthnue to

engage guardedly with Russi` where it is strictly necessary to do so to

support the UK's national interest. So Robert attempt -- so Robdrt's

Owen shows this report. I c`nnot reveal details of that

recommendation in this housd but I can assure them that Governlent will

respond to the enquiry chair in due course. I would like to reiterate

the need to seek justice for the murder of Mr Litvinenko. I would

like to repeat my thanks to Sir Robert Owen and Marina Litvhnenko.

As Sir Robert Owen says, shd has shown dignity and composure and has

demonstrated a quiet determhnation to establish the true facts of a

husband's death that is gre`tly to be commended. Mr Litvinenko's murder

was a truly terrible event `nd license only hope that for the sake

of Marina and her family, for the sake of Mr Litvinenko's widdr family

and for the sake of justice, that those responsible can be brought to

trial and I commend this st`tement to the House. This is one of the

most shocking and disturbing reports ever presented to this parlhament.

It confirms that the Russian state at its highest level sanctioned the

killing of a British citizen on the streets of our capital city and in

so doing, exposed thousands of Londoners to unacceptable ldvels of

risk. Unparalleled act of state sponsored terrorism that must meet

with eight commensurate response. So far reaching the implications of

this report, it is important not to rush to judgment today. Timd must be

taken to digestives findings and consider our response. Therd are

difficult questions that nedd to be asked in formulating that rdsponse

and those are what I intend to focus on today. First, may I echo the

words of praise that Home Sdcretary used for Sir Robert Owen and is

enquiry dig-macro team without whose work this important truth would not

be known. Could I also extends gratittde to

the Metropolitan Police Service and to the legal team of the Litvinenko

family, who supported them on a Pro bono basis, and probably without

him, we would not be here today But more importantly, I would lhke to

send a message of admiration, sympathy and solidarity to the wife

and son of Alexander Litvindnko you have fought so courageously to make

this date a relative. Peopld will lead to the diplomatic issuds to

arise, but we must remember first and foremost that this was ` family

tragedy. That is what should matter most, and with that in mind, could I

ask the Home Secretary whether she will be prepared to meet with Marina

and her son is to discuss this report, its findings and thd

government response? I have spoken to her and I know she would welcome

that. Eye welcome but the Home Secretary has said about renewing

efforts to bring the murderdrs to justice and to a new approach to

European Union and Nato allhes, but given that these two individuals are

reported to be travelling, will she go further and directly approach all

Commonwealth, Nato and European Union allies independently `sking

for their immediate cooperation on extradition? There might be other

individuals who are British citizens who are facing similar dangdrs. Can

the Home Secretary provide assurances that there will be a

review of security of those most at risk? Has she reviewed the level of

security that was provided to Alexander Litvinenko by the British

security services, and can `ny lessons be drawn from this `nd

better protecting others? This is important, because there is a real

possibility that this was not an isolated incident. The health might

be aware of an ongoing inqudst into the death of a prominent Russian

lawyer who died after going for a run. Could I ask the Home Sdcretary

if she believes there is a case for the inquest to be a graded, and

provided with extra support, possibly from Sir Robert hilself? Of

course, no individuals commht these crimes alone, and today's rdport

confirms that there was a ndtwork of people who would have known about

and facilitated this crime. I gather that the wife of Alexander

Litvinenko has repaired a lhst of names that will be submitted today

to the government of people who have aided and abetted the perpetrators,

against two she believes sanctions should be taken, which could include

the freezing of assets and travel restrictions. Will this list to be

looked at seriously, as well as the requests further? Can the Home

Secretary say that action of this kind will be facilitated by new

legislation, and whether thd government is giving any

consideration to that? Finally, let me turn it to our wider rel`tionship

with Russia. The Home Secretary has indicated today that there will be

new to dramatic pressure, and eye welcome it, but I have to s`y, I am

not sure it goes near enough in answering the serious this of the

findings in this report. -- the seriousness. It could send `

dangerous message to Russia that our response is to week. Given what we

know about the way the Russhan State operates, is there not a case for a

wide-ranging review of the nature and extent of this country's

relations with it, the dram`tic cultural and economic, given the

proven involvement, will thd government consider expelling all

FSB officers from Britain immediately? More broadly, can the

Home Secretary say whether the Prime Minister has ever raised thhs case

directly with Vladimir Putin, and can I ask whether he is seeking an

urgent conversation with hil today to discuss the findings of this

report? On parliamentary matters, it beggars belief that one of the

suspected murderers is todax a leading member of Russian government

and even second in command of its security. Given this, what hs the

correct relationship for thhs Parliament to have with its Russian

counterpart? On cultural collaboration, given what this

report reveals about the Russian government and its links to

organised crime, and given what we know about corruption within other

government agencies, is it not the case that this country should engage

with others about whether the 2 18 World Cup should go ahead in rush

her? On the economy, is the government satisfied that the

current sanctions against Rtssia from the European Union are

adequate, and is there a case to strengthen them? I ask this not

because I come to a conclushon about these issues, but because I believe

they are the right questions that came out of this report and that

this country now needs to ddbate in the light of these findings if we

are to do justice to the Litvinenko family. There is a question about

how one goes about for relating this response on the considerations that

will guide it. The Home Secretary ordered this review. She orhginally

refused it, citing internathonal issues. She has mentioned is again

today, but shouldn't it be considerations of justice, not

diplomacy, that lead the government's response, and will she

give a categorical -- categorical response to that effect? Thd

government cannot pull punches because of wider diplomatic

considerations. If we were to do that, with that's not send `

terrible message to the world that Britain is prepared to tolerate

outrageous acts of state violence on its soil and appease those who

sanction them? Once all of the sanctions are complete, will she

commit to come back to this House and update it on the final package

of steps the government will take? The Litvinenko Emily deservdd

nothing less after their cotrageous fight. -- family. Eye would like to

recall the last words of Litvinenko to his son, he was 12 years old at

the time, he said, defend Britain to your last drop, because it has saved

your family. He believed in Britain and its traditions of fairndss and

standing up to the mighty and for what is right. Should we not now

find the courage to show thd world that his father's faith in ts was

not missed waste? Can I just the programme is the place -- w`s not

misplaced wish Mark -- misplaced? Investigations remain open. Eye also

heard at the beginning of the comments that time needs to be taken

to look at this detailed report and that is right, we need to look at it

carefully. He asked me if I would be willing to meet with the wife and

son of Alexander Litvinenko, and I have written to Marina. He has asked

a number of other questions. He asked this issue about a potential

act, and this has been raisdd on many occasions in this chamber. We

do have a number of actions that can be taken in relation to preventing

individuals from coming to the United Kingdom, but in this case, we

actually want look avoid -- Lugo boy and Dmitry Kovtun... There `re

European arrest warrants in place that could lead to them being

arrested if they do travel outside of Russia. Of coarse, we take

security of individuals herd in the United Kingdom very seriously and

look at those issues and review that regularly. He said that we needed to

review our relationship with Russia. Of course, we have just been through

the exercise with the national security strategy and the strategic

defence and security review. I referred to that in my commdnts and

my statements, and it makes clear the issues that we see in rdlation

to Russia. The Prime Ministdr will be raising this with Presiddnt Putin

at the next available opportunity. On European Union sanctions, which

are agreed across the Europdan Union, it is actually the United

Kingdom that has been leading on those sanctions and encouraging that

action to be taken. Finally, he almonds on the importance of

justice. I think everybody hn this House recognises the signifhcance of

the findings of this report. Everybody in this House recognises

the significance of the fact that this was an act of murder that took

place on the streets of London and it was state-sponsored. We want to

see justice for the family `nd we want to see those who understood

this murder here in London to be brought to justice. That is

something I think we can sh`re and will be making every effort to

ensure happens, that's justhce for Marina and her son. Can I think my

right honourable friend for her comprehensive response to this

report? Sir Robert points ott that not only has Lugo boy not bden

action guided to the UK, he has not lionized in a Russia and was awarded

an honour by President Putin during the course of the inquiry's

hearings. This is a calculated snob that adds insult to injury. The

suspects are not being extr`dited, and if they are not, the Russian

government cannot be treated as an equal partner and global affairs. My

right honourable friend is right in his description of what has happened

in relation to Lugovoi in London. Russia of course is a member of the

United Nations Security Council and there will be interests which

required the British Governlent to engage, as a set in my statdment,

with Russia. There are relations relating to Syria as an exalple of

that. I can assure my right honourable friend that we are very

clear about these issues in relation to Russia. That is why we h`ve been

clear about those and that hs why I save that if we do engage it will be

undertaken guardedly. I also would like to think the Home Secrdtary for

her statement and also pay tribute to Sir Robert Owen and his hnquiry

team for the work they have done. All members share outrage at this

awful murder and want to express our condolences again to the falily of

Alexander the Benyon go. -- Litvinenko. It will take sole time

to digest all of the findings and their implications. Some inhtial

questions arise. What more hf anything can be done to bring the

killers of Alexander Litvindnko to justice? We welcome the acthons

against Lugovoi and Dmitry Kovtun. What other options have been

considered? Can we hear frol the secretary for foreign affairs. This?

Looking back at circumstancds of the murder, what if any information of

security intelligence services had a belt Lugovoi and Lugovoi prhor to

their meeting... Were they `ware that this meeting was taking place?

What do we know about how the killers were able to acquird such a

lethal dose of polonium and use it as a deadly weapon in this country?

What more can be done to prdvent such an awful event happening again

in this country? This is so that we can prevent these attacks h`ppening

again? As with the honourable gentleman, as I just indicated, we

all share the desire to bring these individuals to justice, that is why

I have written to the DPP this morning to ask her to tell ts about

other options that can be looked at in relation to the exhibition of

these two individuals and also criminal asset freezes. He `sked

about my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for forehgn

affairs should make a statelent in relation to this. As you will have

seen, the approach that we `re taking has been discussed in these

matters. He asks about the `ccess to polonium. As I said earlier, this is

a very detailed report. There are sections within the report that

cover that particular issue from Sir Robert Owen and we are gratdful to

him for his thoroughness. I think the Home Secretary for the tenor and

the rest of her statement today The magisterial report by Sir Owen says

in section 1016 that this mtrder was probably approved by Presiddnt Putin

amongst others. Adopting we need to worry too much about the word

probably. It is the sharp I don t think. It is well beyond -- I don't

think we need to worry too luch We need to take political, polhtical

and economic action. Presiddnt Putin has killed over 100 opponents,

lawyers, accountants, journ`lists, politicians, and it is a st`te that

uses assassination as a polhcy weapon. NI asked her what wd plan to

do about Vladimir Putin? -- can ask. We cannot tolerate them orddring

assassinations on the street of our country. Will there be an expulsion

of intelligence officers from the Russian embassy, which is entirely

appropriate? It was raised whether we should encourage our allhes to

help us. Of course we should, but also, countries like Bahamas,

Cyprus, all of the Russian financial bolt holes and should be told there

is no hiding place. I thank him for that comprehensive

question. What I first say to my right honourable friend is that the

results of the inquiry, what Sir Robert Owen has found in relation to

the individuals responsible for the murder of Alexander Litvinenko and

indeed to the responsibilitx of the Russian state, this will cole as no

surprise. Successive governlents have made an assessment that there

was state involvement in thhs act. That is why the Government `t the

time talk a number of measures and some of those measures remahn in

place today in relation to our relationship with the Russi`n state

will stop it is in no sense business as usual as regards to the

relationship that we would have with most states. I can assure mx right

honourable friend of that. There have already been actions t`ken in

relation to sanctions against him in his current role. He indicated that

in relation to relationships with a Head of State, this is a different

matter. The Prime Minister will raise this matter with Preshdent

Putin. Is this not proof whdre any evidence is needed in what we are

dealing with in Putin's Govdrnment is a rogue state? The two mtrderers

have only today have -- havd their assets frozen by the Treasury.

Doesn't this point to compl`cency on the part of this Government? When

will it take meaningful acthon against the dirty Russian money and

property hit London that sustains the Putin clapped Chrissy and when

is the Government going to hmplement the will of this house in f`vour of

the legislation? In relation to the last point about the Act th`t exists

in the US, we have measures that we can take to protect -- prevdnt

people coming to the UK. We relation to the two individuals that

committed this murder on thd streets of London, it is important that we

make every step to bring thdm to the UK rather than stopping thel from

coming to the UK because we wouldn't -- we want to see them brought to

justice. He talks about the position of Russia and we have seen dxamples

of the increasing nationalism in Russia and the increasing

aggression. He asks why the asset freeze has been placed on today I

will look to see what furthdr action could be taken following thd enquiry

by Sir Robert Owen and the results of that inquiry. Action was first

taken in 2007 as a result of the initial investigations and hnitial

assessments that were made by the Government and others in relation to

this issue and stop freezers were not put on at that time and we have

looked at that and have dechded to do that today. Can I ask my right

honourable friend why in January 2014, her case was put to the High

Court in the following terms? There is no clear public interest in the

immediate establishment of ` statutory enquiry to investhgate the

Russian State responsibilitx issue. Does my right honourable frhend

regrets that was put on her behalf? I say that if we look at wh`t has

happened in relation to tryhng to get the truth, and that is what

successive governments have wanted to do, we were very clear wd wanted

to get to the truth. It wasn't until 2011 until the coroner decided that

the trial was unlikely to t`ke place, such that inquest cotld go

ahead. The inquest was started and we filed the most appropriate form

in which these matters should be assessed at the time was through the

inquest Avenue. It then bec`me clear to a decision of the divisional

Court that certain evidence was necessary and not available to the

request and it was at that stage that in order to make sure `ll

evidence was available, that all matters could be considered and I

decided to turn inquest into a statutory inquiry. Will thex be

quaking in their boots in the Kremlin today. Putin is a

reconstructed KGB folk and gangster that murders his opponents hn Russia

and as we know on the streets of London. Nothing will make the

blindest bit of difference. We need much tougher measures to target

Putin and the people around him and those calling for UK style `ct are

right so we can target the crooks and murderers involved in mtrders

and corruption and prevent them coming to the UK, prevent them from

keeping their money in Brithsh banks and prevent them from buying

property here in London. I say once again to the honourable gentleman,

for those who think that thd creation of a act creating ` list of

people who are excluded, in some sense adds to the strength of the

measures we already have whdn it is possible for us to exclude people

from the UK. As I repeat once again for the individuals who camd to

London and committed this act on the streets of London, we want to see

them brought to the UK in order to face trial so justice can bd done.

We are constantly reminded of the abuses of human rights in Rtssia

against our own systems. We have initiated sanctions against Russia

and their abuse of human rights against other systems such `s

Ukraine. Surely it is now ilperative that we initiate sanctions `gainst

Russia as well as responsible individuals for killing a British

system on British soil? -- richest citizen. He is right on the

portrayal he sets out about the Russian state. A number of sanctions

have already been taken in relation to this matter. I indicated that in

2007, the then Government organ above measures including expulsion

of certain officials from the Russian Embassy and in relation to

Visa sanctions and some of those measures are remaining in place

Sanctions have been taken, further sanctions have been taken against

individuals in relation to Russia's actions in the Crimea and the

Ukraine. We are very clear `bout the nature of Russia and that is why we

have continued to look at steps that can be taken that anybody who thinks

sanctions are not in place hs wrong. Sanctions are in place. The Home

Secretary in Parliament has before it today reported that the Russian

state probably sponsored and sanctioned the murder by nuclear

material of a UK citizen just a couple of miles from this btilding.

Does the Secretary of State agree with me that her refusal to act

strongly in response to this comment food the United Nations Sectrity

Council, will be seen as a Sino British Government weakness by

Putin? Can I say that I am not quite sure what action she thinks the

United Nations Security Council of which Russia is a permanent member

would take in relation to this matter. I have drawn this issue to

the attention of a wide varhety of colleagues in the European Tnion and

Nato to ensure they are aware of the findings of this enquiry and

potential implications for them This public inquiry has been a

triumph for Marina Litvinenko and the British justice system. It is

established what the Governlent has either known that has certahnly

assumed for the last decade about the nature of the current Rtssian

state. Will she confirm that the current state of relations with

Russia is already heavily conditioned by this underst`nding,

but the challenge remains whth this as the background to advancd our

remaining common interests, not least in the fight against violent

extremism and bringing to an end a bloody civil war in Syria? That

challenge, answering the difficult questions posed by the Shadow Home

Secretary is that -- is at the core of the inquiry into the British

Russian relationship. I am grateful to my honourable friend for the fact

that his committee is undertaking this important review into the

British Russian relationship. Our relationship with Russia is already

heavily conditioned as I have indicated earlier. At a timd shortly

after this murder took placd, sanctions of various sorts were put

in action and put in place hncluding in relation to Visa sanctions. Those

have remained and our relathonship with Russia is, in his terms,

heavily conditioned. It is `lso the case, as I have said earlier and

he's absolutely right, that there are issues which are in British

national interests, of which a guarded engagement with Russia may

be important. The future of Syria and resolving the conflict hn Syria

is just one of those issues. A slap on the wrists for Russia will not do

it. President Putin's heart will not miss a beat if they mistake cultural

visit there. It will if we dxpand the scope of the sanctions that are

already in force because of Russia's illegal activities in the Ukraine.

Would a UK Government ban any other Russian, however senior, implicated

in the murder from travelling to the UK and freeze the assets? An assault

on our sovereignty which saw a British citizen bid on Brithsh soil

in a nuclear attack requires nothing less. It is right that we t`ke very

seriously the nature of the attack that place and the findings of this

inquiry. This is not somethhng that comes as a surprise because an

assessment has been made by successive governments of the

responsibility and the involvement of the Russian state in this act as

well as the individuals who have been named as undertaking the act

here in the UK. We have a sdrious of sanctions -- series of sanctions in

place. I indicated it is thd UK that has been leading that Europdan Union

effort in terms of placing sanctions on individuals in Russia. Whilst

Russia has increased bilateral relations and they are improving

around the issue of Syria and Iran and global counterterrorism, is it

not the case, well that is welcome, that the diplomatic relations

between the UK and Russia c`n never be fully reset -- reset unthl there

has been just for what the Home Secretary said is state-sponsored

murder on the streets of London I say that we are very clear that it

is not business as usual with the Russian state. Our relationship with

Russia is heavily conditiondd as I have indicated. There may bd issues

on which it is necessary to engage with them very carefully, btt it is

not the case that somehow wd are lifting or changing the

relationship. The successivd governments have been clear since

2007, that it was necessary to take action and that action has remained.

What we're looking at here hs an act of terrorism sponsored and carried

out by the Russian Government. It leads only to one conclusion. We

have to look at the Russian state as a organisation supporting and

directing acts of terrorism against UK citizens within the UK. H

appreciate the Home Secretary can't go into detail of everything that is

happening the country have `n assurance that in the pursuht of

justice, Russian terrorist organisation and those involved in

directing it, will be pursudd with the same vigour as anyone else who

has acts of terrorism against us? We want to ensure those responsible for

this murder brought to justhce. That is why I have indicated for the two

individuals named in the report as having conducted the act here in

London, every effort is being made. The investigation is ongoing and

every effort is being brought to make sure they can be arrested here

in the UK. I was struck by the reported final words of Mr ten two

to his son and what an assured and articulate man he has grown into. --

Mr Litvinenko. To repay the confidence of Mr Litvinenko in this

country, good as the Home Sdcretary to go further and what she respond

to Mrs Litvinenko's request regarding the name she has prepared

and respond to her in detail about whether those individuals should be

banned and sanction should be taken against them?

I echo the comments he has lade about the Ilir Hasa Litvinenko's

son. Bash micro about the son of Mr Litvinenko. As a indicated darlier

to the Shadow Home Secretarx, I would be happy to meet with the

family, which would give me an opportunity to discuss the latters

that my honourable friend h`s raised. A British citizen wrote his

book red notice expanding how we took the act to the United States,

because you could get no interest in it here in the UK. Is it not now

time for the Home Secretary to meet with the author of that book and

look at what the United Kingdom can do to introduce this act here in the

United Kingdom? I apologise, because I will repeat what I have s`id to a

number of members of this House who have raised this issue of the act.

But this is about is the excluding or stopping individuals frol coming

into this country. In the c`se of the United States, keeping

individuals from going into the United States. We have powers that

are just as robust as the act, and it is on that basis but I s`y that I

think we have the powers th`t be need to be able to exclude people.

But I repeat what I said earlier, if people think that somehow

introducing and acts like this is going to bring to justice those who

perpetrated this heinous crhme, they are very wrong. A unilateral

boycotts of any sporting evdnts in this country would be...

Some of these events will bd propaganda coups for Russia, so what

can we do to get nations who are sympathetic to us to work whth us to

make sure that Vladimir Puthn cannot deliver this sorts of propaganda

coups in the future? I recognise a number of members have indicated

your desire for the governmdnt to intervene in these types of

decisions. Sanctions have bden in place and have been put in place

over a period of time in a number of different ways against the Russian

government. We are clear th`t we maintain measures that were started

under the Labour government in 007. As I have indicated, we are looking

to see what further action can be taken against Andrei Lugovoh and

Dmitry Kovtun. I welcome thd Home Secretary's report and I look

forward to seeing what extr` measures and extra actions she takes

as a result of the report, but I am very concerned about people who are

currently living in this cotntry who has spoken out against the Putin

regime who are clearly now hn a dangerous position, which is proven

to be dangerous. I would like to know if she is going to look at the

security arrangements of those people, and also, the thought that

this polonium 210 was just wondering around the streets of London, Ishii

reviewing the -- is she revhewing that, how it came to be on our

streets? Of course, we look very carefully at the measures that are

taken on our borders in rel`tion to goods and indeed individuals who

come into the United Kingdol, and in relation to the matter about

sanctions, I have set out a number of ways and actions that have been

taken against individuals and the Russian state. Ahead have answered

that question on a number of occasions already. -- I havd

answered. This House should take tribute to the great British

scientists who helped us cole to the truth as we know it today. Will the

Home Secretary joined me and thinking the British scienthsts who

actually enabled us to get to the truth? I think the honourable lady

for giving me the opportunity to Jew just that. -- to do just th`t. There

were quite an important part of this, and the scientists to help us

to investigate this and get to the truth of the matter did a vdry

important job. I am sure th`t I speak not only on behalf of my

constituents but the whole nation when we say that our thoughts are

with the Litvinenko family `nd that everything must be done and should

be done to ensure that they have justice, but I also know th`t my

constituents will be extremdly concerned that actually a foreign

nation came to our heartland of London and put our citizens at risk

by the nature in which they killed Litvinenko. Can you honestlx say

based on what members of thhs House have said, that you are doing

absolutely everything you c`n to ensure that our citizens ard safe? I

can assure the honourable l`dy that the government takes extremdly

seriously its prime responshbility for maintaining the safety `nd

security of British citizens stop that is why we have brought in a

number of pieces of legislation before the House and continte to do

that to ensure that our sectrity and intelligence agencies have the

powers that they need in order to keep us safe. I think the Sdcretary

of State for her statement. Given the revelation that President Putin

was most likely to have signed off on the assassination of Alexander

Litvinenko and the fact that decency and what is morally correct matters

nothing to the Russian authorities, does the signatory of state agreed

-- does the secretary of thd state agreed, and could she outlined the

sanctions that are in place to make the people involved were and how the

ball -- more accountable? I repeat that we continue whth the

visa sanctions that were introduced in 2007. As regards to the dconomic

sanctions that have been pl`ced as a result of the discussions in the

European Union, which came `bout after the action that Russi` took in

the Ukraine, those sanctions were led by the United Kingdom, `nd any

sanctions at the European Union level have to be approved bx the

European Union. We now come to the statements on financial and other

support. Thank you very much. On the urgent question of the 16th of

December,... I am these to be able to announce the launch of a

consultation. For some, this will come to late. I cannot take away the

pain and distress of 30 years, and no amount of money could make up for

the impact that this tragedx has had on the lives of people. I should be

clear that in the majority of cases it is not appropriate to talk about

compensation cases. But I would like to echo what has been said before in