Sir Patrick Cormack FSA

Conservative Party | Staffordshire South

Question on Alexander Litvinenko

Patrick Cormack (South Staffordshire) (Con): While I recognise and agree with the robust tones of the Foreign Secretary’s statement, I do not want any more than he does to see the outbreak of another cold war. Can he tell the House how many meetings he had with the Russian ambassador here on this subject, and how many conversations he had with his Russian counterpart?

David Miliband: I have spoken twice to my Russian counterpart during my two and a half weeks in office, including earlier today, because I thought it right and courteous to do so before I came to the House. As I said in my statement, the Russian ambassador met the permanent under-secretary at the Foreign Office on 22 May, and has met him again today. The judicial channels have also been extensively used. If, when I get back to the office, there is further information in relation to the hon. Gentleman’s question that I have not given him, I shall write to him with further details.