The responsibility for concluding treaties involving the United Kingdom lies with the Secretary of State for Foreign & Commonwealth Affairs. The FCO is responsible for our policy aspects of all treaties, as well as dealing with questions of form, practice and procedure.

The FCO's Treaty section has two main roles – to advise on practice and procedural matters in relation to the production of treaties, and to provide information on those treaties to which the United Kingdom is, or has been, a party.

Treaty Section provides a number of regular services:

The Procedures Team:

• advise on UK Treaty practice and procedure including preparation of treaty texts, Instruments of Ratification and Full Powers
• publish UK Treaties as Command Papers with Explanatory Memoranda
• register UK treaties that have been extended into force with the United Nations

The Information Team:

• provide a Treaty enquiry service which can identify bilateral or multilateral treaties involving the UK

      We also offer: 

• lists on a range of issues and other related information, including status lists for the Brussels and Lugano Conventions, and the 1958 Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards
• Treaty texts on certain specified subjects, such as Investment and Prisoner Transfer agreements
• act as depositary for 36 multilateral treaties

These pages further contain:

• a Glossary of treaty terms (intended as guidance only, and should not be considered authoritative)
• Treaties applying to UK Overseas Territories. When the UK is involved in the negotiation or signature of any treaty which could apply to the OTs it is important they are fully consulted at the earliest stage.
• links to international organisations, other States' treaty websites, and other international law websites useful for further research.