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Law: Parliamentary Papers

The library guide for Cambridge University's Squire Law Library.

Parliamentary Papers

The term "Parliamentary Papers" includes Parliamentary Proceedings (see separate page), Bills, command papers, House of Commons papers and House of Lords papers.

House of Commons Papers

 

Official Documents
The official reference facility for recent Command Papers, House of Commons Papers and key Departmental Papers. Command Papers and House of Commons Papers are available in full text from 17 May 2005 to the present. You can also browse a selection of material from before this date.

 

Search Parliamentary Papers

A new service is being trialed by Parliament UK which includes House of Commons Papers.

Bills

The bills and legislation section of the Parliament UK website

Public Information Online 
Commons bills 1919 onwards
Lords bills 1901 onwards

State Papers

Command Papers

Official Documents
The official reference facility for recent Command Papers, House of Commons Papers and key Departmental Papers. Command Papers and House of Commons Papers are available in full text from 17 May 2005 to the present. You can also browse a selection of material from before this date.

 

The command paper numbering sequence and prefix has changed many times over the years and can cause confusion. Wikipedia have a useful chart.

Reports of special commissions and public inquiries are often known by the names of the Chair e.g. the Scarman Report is actually titled The Brixton Disorders and is cmnd 8427. You can search by Chairs on the UK Parliamentary Papers Database or there are indexes to chairs held in the Rare Books room.

Parliament Rolls

Department Papers

Some government departments issued their own publications that do not come under any of the numbering schemes. These can be harder to track down but should still have been deposited with the University Library so initial inquiries should still be directed to the Rare Books team. 

One example is Home Office material such as Home Office Circulars. The University Library has a well stocked collection of circulars and these are frequently requested.

Public Information Online has a section of Key Non Parliamentary Papers section which is worth checking.  More recent publications will probably be online on the gov.uk website. If the University Library does not hold what you require, ask at the relevant department library for advice.

House of Lords Papers

 

Search Parliamentary Papers

A new service is being trialed by Parliament UK which includes House of Lords Papers.

Command Papers

Photo of three parliamentary papers with varying covers on a desk.

Cabinet Papers 1915-1984

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