Catalogue description Home Office: Treaties and Conventions (INT Symbol Series) Files

Home Office involvement in treaties and conventions arises in connection with such aspects as the privileges and immunities of foreign diplomats in the UK, human and property rights, narcotics and immigration.

Most of the initiative for international treaties rests with other departments such as the Foreign and Commonwealth Office or the Department of Trade and Industry. The Home Office is consulted in relation to such matters as the privileges and immunities of foreign diplomats in the United Kingdom, human and property rights, narcotics and immigration.

The genesis of many of the conventions involving the United Kingdom rests with the Council of Europe. The United Kingdom normally sees fit to sign and ratify the conventions emanating from the Council, but in certain instances, as with the Convention on the Legal Status of Migrant Workers, has declined to do so because of objections to some of the articles therein. In certain other cases such as with the European Interim Agreement on Social Security other than Schemes for Old Age, Invalidity and Survivors, the British Government delayed ratification pending the passing of legislation aligning UK practice with that operating in most other European countries.

I (International) Division of the Home Office was responsible for examining draft foreign treaties and conventions for Home Office interests, co-ordinating Home Office action on International Labour Office Papers, and representing the Home Office on inter-departmental committees on international organisations. A1 Division of the Home Office was responsible for communications with the governments of Northern Ireland, Isle of Man and Channel Islands.

E Division of the Home Office acquired the responsibilities of A1 Division in 1962 and those of I Division in 1963. Since 1986 the responsibility for treaties and conventions has rested with the Criminal Justice and Constitutional Department.