THE Prime Minister yesterday acknowledged the ''acute'' problems faced

by Russia's embattled leader Boris Yeltsin and pledged to help reformers

in the country.

He said at Question Time: ''I think no one is in any doubt about the

acutely difficult situation faced by the Russian parliament and the

Russian leadership at the moment.

''We very much hope that the Group of Seven will be able to help the

reform movement in Russia and we will certainly intend to do so.''

Tory Teresa Gorman (Billericay) had told him that, on a recent visit

to Kiev, Ukraine, she found ''the contents of the very best department

stores were about the equivalent of a car boot sale on a bad Sunday

afternoon''.

* Mrs Gorman demanded a referendum on the Maastricht Treaty. Mr Major

told her firmly: ''As far as a referendum is concerned, I can give you

no comfort.''