HOUSE OF LORDS - United Kingdom Parliament

laid a copy before Parliament;
published it; and
allowed a period of 21 sitting days (beginning with the day after
that on which the treaty was laid) during which either House may
resolve that the Treaty should not be ratified.
10.75 The minister may extend the scrutiny period by up to 21 sitting
days by publishing and laying before Parliament a statement to that effect
before the original period expires; this can be done more than once.
10.76 If the Lords pass a resolution within the 21 sitting days (or within
the extended scrutiny period) that the treaty should not be ratified, the
Government can only proceed with ratification after they have laid a
statement before Parliament explaining why the minister believes the
treaty should nevertheless be ratified.
10.77 These requirements do not apply if the minister is of the opinion
that, exceptionally, the treaty should be ratified without their being met.
In such a case, either before or as soon as practicable after the treaty has
been ratified, it must be published and laid before Parliament by the
minister, along with a statement explaining why the treaty is being ratified
outside this process.
10.78 In laying a treaty before Parliament, the minister shall accompany
the treaty with an explanatory memorandum explaining the provisions of
the treaty, the reasons for seeking its ratification, and such other matters
as the minister considers appropriate.
10.79 For the purposes of these provisions, a sitting day is a day when
both Houses are sitting.
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