Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, following the suspension of Russia's annual payment to the Council of Europe, what discussions they have had with Thorbjørn Jagland, the Secretary General, regarding the possibility of Russia's withdrawal from the Council of Europe.

The UK Ambassador to the Council of Europe has had regular discussions with the Secretary General to the Council of Europe over Russia's refusal to pay the second instalment of their budgetary payment for 2017. In addition, my right honourable friends in the other place, the Member for Rutland and Melton, Sir Alan Duncan, and the Member for Aylesbury, David Lidington, separately met the Secretary General on 28 November 2017 . We are considering all possible scenarios and are working with the Secretary General and other Member States on this matter. Russia has an obligation to pay its subscription as a member and should start paying again without delay.