HL Deb 14 January 1997 vol 577 c20WA
Lord Cocks of Hartcliffe

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they consider that there are shortcomings in the present system for appointing judges to the European Court of Human Rights, and what suggestions they have made to improve the system.

Baroness Chalker of Wallasey

The Government have put certain proposals to the other States Members of the Council of Europe on improvements to the procedure for appointing judges to the new Protocol 11 Court when it comes into existence in 1998-99. These would include an arrangement whereby the names of national candidates for the Court would be exchanged informally within the Committee of Ministers before they are passed to the Assembly. We hope to discuss these and other ideas further in the Council of Europe in the new year.