Minister James Cartlidge acknowledged the importance of the debate and commended John Howell's work in Strasbourg. He emphasised the UK’s commitment to remaining a part of the ECHR, while highlighting efforts made through declarations like Interlaken and Brighton aimed at reducing the Court’s case backlog and enhancing efficiency. Cartlidge addressed concerns about judge selection processes, agreeing that improving these is critical for ensuring judges are independent from political influence. He welcomed the Parliamentary Assembly's exploration into best practices to improve candidate scrutiny. Additionally, he noted the Government's request for a review of the effectiveness of the current system for selecting and electing judges at the Strasbourg Court, aiming to strengthen safeguards preserving their independence and impartiality.