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Law

Command Papers

Command papers (section 3.4.3 in OSCOLA Guide)

  • Some Government documents are published as Command Papers. Command papers include White and Green Papers, relevant treaties, government responses to select committee reports, and reports of committees of inquiry.

  • Command Papers have a command paper number at the bottom of the first page (e.g. Cm 5432)

  • The abbreviation of ‘command’ preceding the command paper number depends on the year it was published: 1833–69 (C (1st series)); 1870–99 (C (2nd series)); 1900–18 (Cd); 1919–56 (Cmd); 1957–86 (Cmnd); 1986– (Cm).

 

  • Footnote Format:

Government department, Title of Command Paper (Cm Number of paper, Year of paper) Pinpoint.

  • Footnote Example:

Department for Children, Schools and Families, 2008 Autumn Performance Report (Cm 7507, 2008) 54.

  • Bibliography Format:

Government department, Title of Command Paper (Cm Number of paper, Year of paper)

  • Bibliography Example

Department of Health, Choosing health. Making healthy choices easier (Cm 6374, 2004)

Tips:

  • If additional information is required, insert it within the brackets before the command paper number

    • Example: Department for International Development, Eliminating World Poverty: Building our Common Future (White Paper, Cm 7656, 2009) ch 5.