Lifecycle of Parliamentary Documents: United Kingdom
are compiled from the Minutes of Proceedings that occur in that chamber.[1] It is considered discourteous to publish papers before a copy has been laid before the House, although the same version of any Command or House of Commons paper must be published on gov.uk on the same day it is laid before Parliament.[2]
There are a few organizations, such as the National Audit Office, the Electoral Commission, the House of Commons, and the House of Lords, that produce House of Commons papers and unnumbered Act and un-numbered Command Papers. These organizations are not permitted to publish these papers on gov.uk, “because in the context of gov.uk they are not considered to be government organisations.”[3]
Deposited papers do not appear to be included in the categories of documents above. Deposited papers are parliamentary documents that are put in either the House of Commons Library or the House of Lords Library, typically in response to a request for information from a Member of Parliament (MP) or peer. They are separate from parliamentary papers that are laid before Parliament.[4] Deposited papers tend to be more technical or informational in nature, and can include data tables, correspondence, maps and research findings. The House of Commons and House of Lords libraries holds deposited papers in a joint series and number them chronologically throughout the year.[5] These documents have been available in digital form to the public since 2007.[6]
B. Legal framework
A wide variety of legislation and conventions dictate how parliamentary documents are handled.
1. Laying Documents Before Parliament
What constitutes laying a document before Parliament was clarified in the Laying of Documents Before Parliament (Interpretation) Act 1948. 16 This law provides that documents are properly laid if done so during the existence of a Parliament and the procedures established in a standing order
- r16 Laying of Documents Before Parliament (Interpretation) Act 1948, 11 & 12 Geo. 6, c. 59,
- ↑ Id. ¶ 7.16.
- ↑ The National Archives, Parliamentary Papers Guidance, supra note 5, at 23.
- ↑ Id. at 25. Excepted organizations are the National Audit Office; Electoral Commission; Local Government Boundary Commission England; Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority; House of Commons and House of Lords; and medical professional bodies that are overseen by the Privy Council Office.
- ↑ About Deposited Papers, UK Parliament, https://perma.cc/7CFN-FD8K.
- ↑ Id.
- ↑ Deposited papers from 2007 are available in digital form to online users and papers deposited between the years 1987-2006 have been digitized and are also available online from the UK Parliament website. Papers prior to that date are available in hard copy and can be requested to be viewed in the Parliamentary Archives. Parliamentary Archives, UK Parliament, https://perma.cc/RYJ6-CK5C.
