The responsibility for concluding treaties involving the United Kingdom lies with the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. The FCO is responsible for Foreign and Commonwealth 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:

• Advice on UK Treaty Practice and Procedure including preparation of treaty texts, Instruments of Ratification and Full Powers.
• Provision of a Treaty Enquiry Service
• Acting as depositary for 36 multilateral treaties
• Publication of UK Treaties as Command Papers and Explanatory Memoranda.
• Registration with the United Nations of UK treaties in force.

These pages also contain:

• 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.
• Links to international organisations, other States' treaty websites, and other international law websites useful for further research.
• Treaty Texts on certain specified subjects.
• 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.

Contact Us

Treaty Section can be contacted at:

Treaty Section
Legal Advisers Directorate
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Old Admiralty Building
London
SW1A 2PA

Telephone: 020 7008 1109
Fax: 020 7008 1115
E-Mail: treaty.fco@gtnet.gov.uk

The Treaty Enquiry Service is open from 0900 to 1700, Monday to Friday.