Research Briefing
Parliament now has a statutory role in ratifying treaties. As this Commons Library briefing paper explains, the Government must lay most treaties before Parliament for 21 sitting days before it can ratify them, and the Commons can block ratification indefinitely. However, there is no statutory requirement for a debate or vote, and parliament cannot amend treaties.
Research Briefing
Politically dominant at home despite the continuing sluggishness of the Japanese economy, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe faces serious challenges in charting a positive way forward on relations with the US under the new Trump Administration and with China, where their territorial dispute over the East China Sea continues to cast a deep shadow. This briefing surveys the outlook for Japan during 2017 both at home and abroad.
Debate Pack
This Debate Pack has been prepared ahead of the debate on 'Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories', to be held on Thursday 9 February 2017. The subject for the debate has been chosen by the Backbench Business Committee, following a representation by Sir Desmond Swayne, Mark Williams, Chris Bryant, Tommy Sheppard and Dr Tania Mathias.
Research Briefing
This Library briefing analyses the short Bill that offers Parliament its first opportunity to give legal effect to the result of the EU referendum by providing the UK Government with authority to trigger Article 50 on leaving the EU.
Research Briefing
How much information does the Government give Parliament about its position in advance of treaty negotiations? Is it bound to provide Parliament with information on its 'red lines' and strategies? This note looks at some past examples of White and Green Papers ahead of treaty negotiations.
Research Briefing
This briefing is an exploratory analysis of trends – drawing on the views of selected experts – in the domestic politics and foreign policy of the People’s Republic of China.
Research Briefing
This Commons Library briefing paper looks at the process of withdrawing from the EU under Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union. There could be a complex and difficult negotiation lasting two years or more, or the UK could leave without settling its exit terms or its future relationship with the EU.
Research Briefing
The EU has over 1,000 external agreements with other countries or organisations, many of which the individual Member States, as well as the EU, have ratified. Many of them concern trade but they cover a range of policy areas and it is not clear what Brexit will mean for the UK's participation in these agreements.
Research Briefing
The Cultural Property (Armed Conflicts) Bill [HL] 2016-17 has been considered in Public Bill Committee. This Commons Library Briefing Paper gives an overview of the debate so far.
Debate Pack
This Debate Pack has been prepared ahead of the debate on the UK ivory trade to be held in Westminster Hall on Thursday 8 December at 3.00pm. The subject for the debate has been chosen by the Backbench Business Committee, following a representation made by Jeremy Lefroy.
Research Briefing
This Commons Library briefing gives an overview of the 1989 UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, what it covers and how it is enforced.
Research Briefing
The High Court has ruled that the UK Government does not have prerogative power to give notice under Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union for the UK to withdraw from the EU. The Government is appealing to the Supreme Court. Some press reports suggest the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU) would have the last word on this. But can the CJEU rule on matters of UK constitutional Law? Many experts believe that the question central to the case, but not ruled on by the High Court, was whether Article 50 notice, once given, could be withdrawn. If it can be revoked, then the argument that Article 50 notice leads inevitably to a loss of rights under the European Communities Act 1972 might not hold. This paper looks at the questions of revocability and referral to the EU Court.
Research Briefing
Members of Parliament are often asked how constituents can take a case to the European Court of Human Rights. This Commons Library briefing summarises the main features of the process, and emphasises recent changes to it.
Debate Pack
This pack has been prepared ahead of the debate on global biodiversity, to be held in Westminster Hall on Tuesday 1 November 2016 at 2.30pm. The Member in charge of this debate is Dame Caroline Spelman MP.
Research Briefing
This Briefing Paper has been prepared for the second reading debate of the Cultural Property (Armed Conflicts) Bill [HL] 2016-17 on 31 October 2016. The Bill would enable the UK to ratify the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and accede to its two Protocols.
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