Written question asked by Robert Walter (Conservative) on Thursday, 30 April 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 7 May 2009. It was answered by Caroline Flint (Labour) on Wednesday, 13 May 2009 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Council of Europe

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the UK Permanent Representative to the Council of Europe on the short-listing of candidates for the post of Secretary General of the Council of Europe since the resolution of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on the electoral process for the Secretary General adopted on 29 April 2009; what the UK's position at the meeting of the Committee of Ministers in Madrid on 12 May 2009 will be; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: [holding answer 7 May 2009]: We have considered carefully Resolution 1665 (2009) of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) adopted on 29 April 2009. The UK stands by the draft resolution agreed by Ministers' Deputies on 23 April 2009 which will be formally adopted at the ministerial meeting in Madrid on 12 May 2009 nominating two of the four proposed candidates to PACE for election of the next Secretary General.

Secondary information