International treaties and the Overseas Territories
How do international treaties and conventions apply to the UK's inhabited Overseas Territories?

The Public Bill Committee for the Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill concluded on 22 October 2020. Despite a significant number of tabled amendments to Parts 1 and 2 of the Bill, no changes were made. The Bill is not without controversy and MPs are expected to return to some of its more contentious provisions when it comes back to the Floor of the House. Report Stage is scheduled for 3 November 2020.
Has anything changed in the Overseas Operations Bill?: Committee Stage Report (130 KB , PDF)
The main purpose of the Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill is to provide greater legal protections to Armed Forces personnel and veterans serving on military operations overseas.
The Public Bill Committee took place between 6 and 22 October 2020. The Committee took evidence from a number of leading stakeholders and conducted line-by-line scrutiny of the Bill.
A significant number of amendments were tabled to Parts 1 and 2 of the Bill but no changes were made. The Bill therefore remains as introduced (Bill 117).
It is expected that several issues will be returned to on Report. Specifically, the application of the presumption against prosecution provisions in this Bill to torture, war crimes and crimes against humanity; and the proposed six-year time limit for bringing civil claims in relation to overseas operations. Critics have argued that this limit erodes the rights of Service personnel and veterans and potentially breaches the Armed Forces Covenant.
This paper should be read in conjunction with Library Briefing, CBP8983, Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill 2019-2021, which was produced prior to the Bill’s Second Reading. Section 5 of that paper looks at the arguments surrounding the Bill’s provisions.
Report Stage has been scheduled for 3 November 2020.
Has anything changed in the Overseas Operations Bill?: Committee Stage Report (130 KB , PDF)
How do international treaties and conventions apply to the UK's inhabited Overseas Territories?
There will be a debate on sentencing for violence against women and girls in Westminster Hall on 1 February 2023 at 14:30. This debate will be led by Cherilyn Mackrory MP.
A briefing paper on the relationship between church and state in the United Kingdom