Command papers

These are so called because technically they are presented `by command of Her Majesty'. Unlike House of Commons Papers, the numbering of these runs straight on and takes no account of parliamentary sessions. The number of each Command Paper is unique, so it is possible to trace them even if the Command number is the only reference available. There have been six series of Command Papers issued since the first in 1833:

Years 1833-69
Command Numbers 1-4222
Years 1870-99
Command Numbers C.1-C.9550
Years 1900-18
Command Numbers Cd.1-Cd.9239
Years 1919-56
Command Numbers Cmd.1-Cmd.9889
Years 1956-87
Command Numbers Cmnd.1-Cmnd.9927
Years 1987-
Command Numbers Cm.1-
The Library has all Command Papers from 1944/45 and some earlier including a complete microfiche set from 1833 to 1944/45. They are not separately catalogued except when the Library has a second copy shelved in the Dewey sequence.
Command Papers are arranged numerically in boxes in the Parliamentary Papers section until they are bound in sessional volumes with the House of Commons Papers and Bills.
Command Papers issued in the current session can be traced via the daily and monthly Stationery Office lists.
Command Papers bound as Parliamentary Papers can be traced via UKOP or the UK Parliament web pages.
To locate Command Papers once they have been bound it is necessary to know the session in which they were issued. This can be found from the Stationery Office Lists and also from Di Roma and Rosenthal `A Numerical Finding List of British Command Papers Published 1833- 1961/62` which is located on the shelves labelled Government Publications Catalogues.

Pre-1944/45
Shelfmark: Parliamentary Papers (Level 1 Compact Shelving)
Loan Period: Gen Short

Post-1944/45
Shelfmark: Parliamentary Papers (older material in Level 1 Compact Shelving)
Loan Period: Reference only

Duplicates
Shelfmark: Dewey class number
Loan Period: General

N.B. Microfiche Command Papers are kept on closed access and applications for these should be made at the Level 4 Information Desk or at the Main Counter on Level 2. They are for use in the Library only.