Question
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by John Howell MP on 8 June (HC Deb cols 925–29), what assessment they have made of the Council of Europe's role in election monitoring and observation.
Answer
The UK government values the outstanding work the UK delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe does to champion our democratic values across the continent. We are proud of the leading role the UK Parliamentary Assembly delegates play in this vital work to observe elections and to strengthen democratic electoral processes. The UK acknowledges the value of the reports promoted at the Parliamentary Assembly in scrutinising countries who fall behind in their obligations, and look forward to their adoption under the Committee of Ministers.