Former spy 'abandoned by Britain'

Mr Makarov staged a hunger protest in Parliament Square at Easter

An ex-Soviet double agent living on benefits in Northumberland should get more support, Parliament has been told.

Speaking in the Commons, Hexham MP Peter Atkinson said Viktor Makarov, 52, was "in a sorry state".

He was caught spying for Britain and sent to a labour camp before being released under an amnesty in 1992 and smuggled into the country by MI6.

Mr Makarov said he also feared for his life following the poisoning of former KGB officer Alexander Litvinenko.

He accepted a one-off payment of £65,000 from the government, but promises of a new identity and a pension were never fulfilled, according to Mr Atkinson.

'Irritating thorn'

Highlighting the case in a brief debate, he said: "He is in a sorry state existing on a disability allowance and in danger of falling into arrears with the payments on his house.

"The murder of Alexander Litvinenko allegedly by former KGB officers has raised concerns about his security as have approaches by members of the Russian-speaking community in the North who appear to know more about him than they could unless they had been briefed about him beforehand.

Mr Makarov fears he may meet the same fate as Alexander Litvinenko

"Why is it that this man who became an ally of the west against the Communist regime of the Soviet Union, is treated in this way as if he is an irritating thorn in the flesh?"

Mr Makarov was sentenced to a 10-year term in the Perm-35 labour camp in 1987, but was released five years later under an amnesty by then-President Boris Yeltsin.

Shortly before Easter he staged a hunger strike in Parliament Square in London which was called off when Mr Atkinson promised to raise his case with ministers.

Security Minister Tony McNulty said: "With the benefit of advice from his legal representatives, he accepted a generous lump sum payment in 2001 and agreed this was in full and final settlement of any claims he's made against the UK government.

"He has also made complaints about his treatment to the security service and intelligence services' tribunal - which did not find in his favour."

Mr Makarov's local police were aware of his background and were "best placed" to offer advice about his security, Mr McNulty added.