Libraries and leisure

UK Official Information

Hertfordshire’s principal collection of UK Official Publications is located at the Central Resources Library in Hatfield.

The collection contains Parliamentary and Departmental material, including most of The Stationery Office’s current output and a selection of items issued directly by Government Departments.

Most of these items are available for loan, and may be borrowed through any Hertfordshire Library. Items in this collection are not listed on the library’s catalogue. A general list of holdings appears below, but you should contact the Central Resources Library directly to check the availability of specific titles.

The Official Publications Collection includes :-

UK Legislation and Guidance: Acts of Parliament dating from 1225 to the present, together with Statutory Instruments for the last 25 years; building regulations; planning guidance; health and safety information; National Curriculum documents.
Parliamentary Information: ‘Hansard’ Official Report for both the House of Commons and the House of Lords; Standing Committee debates; reports of Select Committees; up to date lists of MPs, cabinet members, opposition front bench spokespersons etc.
Parliamentary Papers: include statements of Government policy (white papers), a selection of consultation documents (green papers), reports of committees of enquiry (e.g. the Stephen Lawrence Enquiry), treaties, the annual reports of public bodies, and Government expenditure plans.
Directories: include the Civil Service Yearbook (listing contacts in Government Departments), army, navy and air force lists, the Diplomatic Service List,etc.
Statistics: an extensive collection of Government statistics on a wide range of topics including demographic, health, social, economic, financial, labour and census data. Major titles are held for 25 years or more, and others for 15 years.
Research Reports: independent research on a variety of subjects with particular strengths in health related material, land use/planning and environmental topics.
Ofsted Inspection Reports: available for loan for all Hertfordshire county schools.

Official Information – List of Holdings

Command Papers:
20 years plus current year

House of Commons and Lords Papers:
5 years plus current session year

House of Commons and Lords Bills:
5 years plus current session year

House of Lords: Select Committee on the EC; Progress of Scrutiny:
5 years plus current session year

Public General Acts:
Bound volumes from 1225
Paper copies 25 years plus current year

Local Acts:
25 years plus current year

General Synod Measures:
25 years plus current year

Statutory Instruments:
Bound volumes 25 years
Paper copies 10 years plus current year

Parliamentary Debates (Hansard Commons and Lords):
20 years plus current session year

Standing Committee Debates:
5 years plus current session year

Departmental Publications:
15 years plus current year