Command Papers

Command Papers derive their name from the fact that they are presented to Parliament by a Government Minister "by Command of Her Majesty". The Papers are numbered consecutively and the current series uses the prefix Cm.

The titles which form this series of publications are often described as "White" or "Green" Papers but these expressions have no formal definition. Over the years it has become accepted that White Papers are statements of Government policy whereas Green papers are proposals which are published as an aid to public debate.

This series also contains the numerous Treaties to which the UK is a party, formal Government Responses to Select Committee Reports and many of the Reports emerging from Committees of Inquiry and Departmental Reviews. These may be of national significance (for example The MacPherson Inquiry following the murder of Stephen Lawrence) or have great impact of the work of Government bodies (eg the review of the Crown Prosecution Service undertaken by Sir Iain Glidewell).