The House of Lords does a remarkable job of scrutinising legislation. However in today's globalising world, many of the laws that have the greatest effect on the citizens of the United Kingdom are international treaties which, once ratified, impose obligations on us all.

Among the most important recent examples are the Kyoto Treaty, the Nuclear Proliferation Treaty, the World Trade Organisation, the Convention on the Rights of the Child; the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination each have had significant effects on social policy in Britain. The 2000 International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism has proved one of the most effective tools in dealing with cross border crime and terrorism.

The example of the Kyoto Treaty is particularly relevant. The House is currently discussing the new bill on Climate Change. The objectives of this domestic law will have obvious consequences for a treaty to succeed Kyoto. That is already being discussed in Bali. There is a direct relationship, therefore, between the two, and Parliament should be able to scrutinise one in the light of the other.

In other democracies, the legislature is able to advise on treaties, and in many cases its consent is also required. The United States Senate, for instance, is in this position. So are the Upper Houses of Parliament in such European countries as Germany, France, Belgium and Spain.

The scrutiny of treaties that have such significant impacts on our lives seems to me a most appropriate extension of the current responsibilities of the House of Lords. I very much hope you will give this proposal sympathetic consideration.