This is an HTML version of an attachment to the Freedom of Information request 'contract with The Stationery Office for printing Acts of Parliament on vellum'.
 
Specification No. 4.1 
 
SPECIFICATION FOR PUBLIC GENERAL ACTS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM 
PARLIAMENT AND MEASURES OF THE GENERAL SYNOD OF THE CHURCH OF 
ENGLAND  

1. BACKGROUND 
 
A Bill (or a Measure) which has been passed by both Houses of Parliament requires Royal 
Assent for it to become an Act (or Measure). 
 
The Public Bill Office (PBO) (part of the Public and Private Bill Office) in the House of Lords, 
on behalf of the Queen’s Printer, is responsible for arranging for the publication of Public 
General Acts and Measures. 
 
Most references to Acts in this specification will also apply to the production of Measures; where 
there are differences, these are highlighted. 
 
2. SIZE 
 
Page size is currently A4 (297mm x 210mm). 
 
3. FORMAT 
 
An Act may consist of any number of pages. Acts of eight pages or more, up to and including 96 
pages are to be saddle-stitched. Perfect binding will be required for Acts making more than 96 
pages. 
 
Each Act will be produced with a cover which will be printed as a self-cover, although when the 
page content is 32 or above, a cartridge cover will be required. In most but not all cases the cover 
will contain a rubric relating to the Explanatory Notes produced in respect of the Act, as directed 
by the Lords PBO. The title will of the Act will also be printed on the spine if the Act makes 112 
pages or more.  
 
4. OPERATIONS 
 
After Royal Assent has been given to the Bill, the Act copy is prepared by the PBO using their 
FrameMaker systems. Circumstances may arise when the Lords PBO will order a proof of the 
Act copy (the “Royal Assent proof”); see also under Church Measures below. 
 
The Act copy will be provided in hard copy form, accompanied by electronic files – see section 
12 (Copy) below.  
 
The Act copy will be sent to the printer together with the certificate of the Clerk of Legislation in 
the House of Lords, on or soon after the day of Royal Assent. Without this certificate the Act 
cannot be published. 
 

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These are the printing requirements: 
 
•  Read down from discs, output and check against hard copy supplied 
•  Typeset cover where necessary 
•  Supply proofs and revised proofs as required 
•  Print in black throughout 
•  Fold, inset, saddle-stitch 2 non-rusting wires, or gather, collate and adhesive 
perfect bind as appropriate, trim 3 edges 
•  Wrap and deliver in quantities as stipulated. 
 
Church Measures 
 
Church Measures receive the Royal Assent in the same way as Bills.  
 
At or near completion of their passage through Parliament, the Lords PBO will order a proof of 
the RA copy. The RA copy will then be further manuscript edited by the Lords PBO before 
being returned to the printer for any necessary revised proofs and subsequent printing, together 
with the certificate of the Clerk of Legislation. 
 
5. 
PAGE CONTENT AND FREQUENCY OF PUBLICATION 
 
The page content of an Act or Measure can vary from one page upwards. The number of Acts 
and Measures produced will also vary from year to year. The number of Acts and Measures 
produced over the last ten years together with the approximate total page content was as follows: 
 
PG Acts: 
Year Number 
of 
Acts 
Total 
Page 
Year Number 
of 
Total Page 
Content 
Acts 
Content 
1995 54 
3002  2000 
45 3840 
1996 63 
3386  2001 
25 1594 
1997 69 
2296  2002 
44 2868 
1998 49 
2606  2003 
45 4030 
1999 35 
2214  2004 
38 3474 
 
Church Measures: 
Year Number 
of 
Acts 
Total 
Page 
Year Number 
of 
Total Page 
Content 
Acts 
Content 
1995 2 
30 
2000 
1  22 
1996 0 

2001 
1  10 
1997 1 
16 
2002 
0  0 
1998 1 
20 
2003 
3  42 
1999 2 
36 
2004 
0  0 
 
 
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and associated products  

 
6. PROOFING 
REQUIREMENTS 
 
Where proofs are required there is also a requirement for delivery to any or all of the following:  
 
 
 
 
Public Bill Office 
   House 
of 
Lords 
   London 
SW1A 
0PW 
 
   Parliamentary 
Counsel 
Office 
   36 
Whitehall 
   London 
SW1A 
2AY 
 
 
 
 
Law Commission 
   Conquest 
House 
   37-38 
John 
Street 
   Theobalds 
Road 
   London 
WC1N 
2BQ 
 
Unless otherwise stipulated proofs and discs will be required to be delivered no later than 
10.00am on the following working day. The PBO will specify quantities required (normally no 
more than 12). 
 
7. PAGE 
LAYOUT 
 
The page layout of an Act is similar to that of the Bill from which it evolved, but without line 
numbers. 
 
Type area is currently 58.5 picas deep x 37.5 picas wide, including running heads and side notes. 
On occasions artwork is to be incorporated, layout will be as specified by the Lords PBO. 
 
8. 
TYPE FACES AND TYPE SIZES 
 
The type faces and sizes are identical to those used in the Bills from which an Act has evolved, 
the specification for which is included as Appendix A to this Specification. 
 
9. INK 
 
All Acts and Measures are to be printed throughout in black ink. 
 
10. PAPER 
 
Text:   
White wove printing, neutral sized, 70gsm (archival quality). 
Cover: 
1. Self cover: white wove printing, neutral sized, 70 gsm (archival quality) 
2. Cartridge Cover: Challenger Cream 200 microns (or similar). 
 
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11. QUANTITY 
 
The print quantity for each Act and Measure will be determined by the Company taking account 
of the requirements of both Houses of Parliament and the appropriate Government 
Department(s) with an interest in the Act. The number of copies required will vary with each Act 
and will be determined by experience, previous sales history and the Company’s view of the 
likely sales potential. 
 
The following information applied at the time of tendering the contract in January 2005: 
 
Historic sales figures are as follows: 
 
Public General Acts 
2000 
2001 
2002 
2003 
2004 to 
30 Sept 

Highest Sales Figure 
6,022 3,636 5,768 4,456 3,057 
Lowest Sales Figure 
919 919 324 321 362 
Average Sales Figure 
2,170 1,453 1,547 1,234 1,117 
Total Sales Figure 
39,052 36,315 68,087 56,752 26,807 
 
Church Measures 
2000 
2001 
2002 
2003 
2004 to 30 
Sept 
Highest Sales Figure 
0 395 0 285 0 
Lowest Sales Figure 
0 395 0 245 0 
Average Sales Figure 
0 395 0 271 0 
Total Sales Figure 
0 395 0 812 0 
  
As a guide, 515 customers have registered to take 579 copies of Acts applying to England and 
Wales, 116 customers have registered to take 137 copies of Acts applying to Scotland and 61 
customers have registered to take 75 copies of Acts applying to Northern Ireland. Many 
customers are registered for all three so if an Act applies to England, Wales, Scotland and 
Northern Ireland then there would be a total of 526 customers taking 591 copies.  
 
12. COPY 
 
All copy will be provided by the Lords PBO. At or after Royal Assent, the Lords PBO will 
supply corrected proofs for publication which will be constituted in PDF and FrameMaker files 
(the internal systems that they use). 
 
The Company will ensure insertion of price, copyright legend, ISBN and bar code. 
 
13 CERTIFIED 
COPY 
The corrected proof copy of Acts and Measures supplied for publication and containing the 
certificate of the Clerk of Legislation in the House of Lords is to be retained by the Company 
and returned to the Lords PBO immediately the House of Lords is sitting after publication of the 
Act. 
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14. DELIVERY 
TIMETABLE 
 
Delivery time is critical. The text of all new Acts will be published on the official legislation 
Website within 24 hours of receipt of the approved text from the Lords PBO. Printed editions of 
all new Acts should be made available as quickly as possible and should be delivered no later 
than 5 working days after receipt of the approved text/press proof. Where more than one Act is 
given Royal Assent on one day, the Lords PBO will give instructions about priorities. 
 
15. ERRORS 
 
Where errors are found in the printed copy of an Act, the Lords PBO will authorise corrections 
to be made. Some corrections will require the issue of a correction slip. Proofs will be required 
and must be sent to the Lords PBO. The corrections should be incorporated into future reprints of 
Queen’s Printer copies and, if yet to be published, the Annual Volumes. Other corrections may 
be authorised by the PBO to be incorporated into the database and made in the Act copy as next 
reprinted, and also to be incorporated in the texts included in the Bound Volume and available in 
electronic media. 
 
16.  
RECORD COPIES OF ACTS 
To meet the House of Lords Archive requirements, two copies of every published Act printed on 
vellum are produced to the specification attached at Appendix B to this Specification. It will be 
the duty of the Company to produce or arrange for these vellum copies to be produced in 
accordance with a separate contract which they will be required to enter into with the House of 
Lords. 
 
17.  SERVICE REQUIREMENTS 
The contents of any Act must be kept confidential at all stages of production prior to authorised 
publication. 
 
The printer will be expected to provide a direct contact at the production unit at each and every 
print stage of all Acts. 
 
18.  QUALITY STANDARDS 
The typeset image must meet a minimum standard of 1100 dpi at all times. Printing must be 
sharp and clear throughout the supply, and associated finishing operations shall be performed to 
a consistently high quality, the arbiter of acceptability in all instances being the Client. 
 
19.  PERFORMANCE AND MONITORING ARRANGEMENTS 
Delivery requirements must be fully met to ensure that the quality of service is maintained. 
Performance will be closely monitored by the Client, who must be allowed access at all times.  
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ANNEX 4 
Specification No. 4.1 
 
 APPENDIX A 
 
Format for Bills, Acts and amendments to Bills 
 
 
This Appendix describes the Parliamentary format for Bills, Acts and amendments to Bills. 
 
Bills 
 
 
Page Layout 

 
Type area: 
58.5 picas deep x 37.5 picas wide 
Measurements include running heads and line numbers 
Type Face 
 
Type Face: 
Book Antiqua with Smart Quotes switched off.  
Superscript and hyphenation not employed. 
Page Details 
 
 
Cover (where required) 
Measure: 34.5 
picas 
Title Line: 
18pt bold upper and lower case, centred over text, “HL” 
where appearing in 16pt bold 
Title cross rules: 
Rule of 0.5pt weight set on an 18pt body followed by a rule 
of 1pt weight set on a 2pt body across the measure to appear 
underneath the title line(s) 
Headings: 
11pt roman capitals centred over text 
(Explanatory Notes and European   
Convention on Human Rights): 
Text: 
11pt on 12pt roman upper and lowercase, justified, “HL” 
where appearing in roman 10pt 
Bill and Session Number: 
11pt on 12pt roman upper and lowercase characters and 
arabic numerals, Bill number ranged left and Session 
number ranged right 
Runners: none 
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Contents 
Measure: 34.5 
picas 
Title line: 
18pt bold upper and lowercase, centred over text, “HL” 
where appearing in 16pt bold. 
Title Heading (if appearing) 
12pt on 14pt roman capitals, centred over text 
Title cross rules: 
Rule of 0.5pt weight set on an 18pt body followed by a rule 
of 1pt weight set on a 2pt body across the measure to appear 
before the title line(s) 
Contents heading: 
14pt roman capitals centred over text: 30pt spacing below 
Part number headings: 
11pt on 12pt roman large and small caps, centred over text: 
12pt spacing above and below 
Part title heading: 
11pt on 12pt roman large and small caps, centred over text; 
12pt spacing above and below 
Part sub-heading: 
11pt on 12pt italic upper and lowercase, centred over text: 
12pt spacing above, 6pt below 
Chapter number heading: 
11pt on 12pt roman large and small caps, centred over text: 
12pt spacing above and below 
Chapter title heading: 
11pt on 12pt roman large and small caps, centred over text: 
12pt spacing above and below 
Chapter sub-heading: 
11pt on 12pt italic upper and lowercase, centred over text: 
12pt spacing above, 6pt below 
Clause numbers and Text: 
11pt on 12pt roman upper and lowercase. 
Numbers ranged right set to a measure of 2.5 picas: text set 
from a left indent of 3.5 picas, justified. 
Rule between clause and 
0.5pt 9 pica rule centred over text 
Schedule contents: 
Schedule numbers and Text: 
11pt on 12pt roman upper and lowercase.  
 
Numbers ranged right set to a measure of 8 picas, followed 
by em rule  
 
Text set from a left indent of 9.5 picas, justified, to align to 
the right of the em rule. 
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Contents (continued) 
Running headline: 
Absent on first page of Contents, thereafter 9pt italic upper 
and lowercase, flush left on odd pages, flush right on even 
pages (“HL” where appearing in 8pt italic). Text of running 
head to consist of short title of Bill.  
A rule of 0.5pt weight set on a 6pt body across the measure 
to appear below the running head. 
Folios: 
absent on first page, thereafter 11pt roman lowercase, flush 
right on odd pages, flush left on even pages, top aligning 
with running head. 
Bill and Session Number: 
on first page only of contents, 11pt on 12pt roman upper and 
lowercase characters and arabic numerals, Bill number 
ranged left and Session number ranged right, set at bottom 
of page. 
Runners: 
none 
 
Clauses 
 
Measure: 34.5 
picas 
Title line: 
 
   “A” 
9pt roman capitals, centre over text 
   “BILL” 
30pt bold capitals, centred over text, 30% spread 
   “AS AMENDED…” 
12pt roman capitals, centred over text 
   “TO” 
9pt roman capitals, centred over text 
Long title: 
12pt on 14pt roman upper and lowercase, justified 
Enactment line: 
 
   dropped initial B: 
36pt uppercase; 
   text 
11/14pt roman upper and lowercase, justified 
Part and Chapter number 
11pt on 12pt bold roman large and small caps, centred over 
headings 
text: 12pt spacing above and below 
 
Part and Chapter title headings: 11pt on 12pt roman large 
and small caps, centred over text: 12pt spacing above and 
below 
Part and Chapter sub-headings: 
11pt on 12pt italic upper and lowercase, centred over text, 
18pt spacing above 
 
 
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Clauses (continued) 
Numbered Clause headings: 
11pt on 12pt bold upper and lowercase, numbers ranged left 
and text set from a left indent of 2.5 picas: 18pt spacing 
above 
Text: 
11pt on 12pt roman upper and lowercase, justified; set from 
a left indent of 3 picas: 8pt spacing above 
First level (subsection) numbers: 
11pt on 12pt arabic numerals, ranged right and set within 
parentheses, set to a measure of 2 picas: 8pt spacing above 
First level (subsection) text: 
11pt on 12pt roman upper and lowercase justified, set from 
a left indent of 3 picas, aligned with subsection number 
Second level (paragraph) 
11pt on 12pt roman lowercase characters and numerals, 
numbers: 
ranged right and set within parentheses, set to a measure of 
5 picas, 2pt spacing above. 
Second level (paragraph) text: 
11pt on 12pt roman upper and lowercase justified, set from 
a left indent of 6 picas, aligned with paragraph numbers 
Third level (sub-paragraph) 
11pt on 12pt roman lowercase numerals, ranged right and 
numbers: 
set within parentheses, set to a measure of 8 picas: 2pt 
spacing above 
Third level (sub paragraph) text: 
11pt on 12pt roman upper and lowercase justified, set from 
a left indent of 9 picas, aligned with sub-paragraph numbers 
Further levels of indentation are based on an additional 3 picas to the preceding measure (in the 
case of numbering) and an additional 3 picas to the preceding indent (in the case of text) 

Definitions text: 
where (unnumbered) definitions text is indented the first 
line of the definition is set from a left indent equal to the 
measure for numbered text of the same level; and the second 
and subsequent lines are set from a further left indent of 1 
pica: 2pt spacing above 
Inserted text: 
where any level of clause or Schedule text is to be inserted 
in another Act the above specifications apply, with the 
measure and indentation for that level being increased by 
the level of indentation of the preceding text.  Thus text 
being inserted by a subsection will be indented by the 
amount specified above plus 3 picas. 
Tables: 
set to style provided (generally 11pt on 12pt roman upper 
and lowercase), with 11pt on 12pt italic upper and 
lowercase column headings.  
Top/bottom table rules 1pt weight set across measure: mid-
table cross and down rules 0.5pt weight unless otherwise 
specified. 
 
 
 
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Clauses (continued)  
Running headline: 
9pt italic upper and lowercase, flush left on odd pages, flush 
right on even pages (“HL” where appearing in 8pt italic).  
Text of running head to consist of short tile of Bill, with any 
Part and Chapter numbers and titles (with em dash between 
numbers and titles) on separate lines below.  
Part and Chapter references in running heads to describe 
text on first line on the page.  
A rule of 0.5pt weight set on a 6pt body across the measure 
to appear below the running head(s). 
Folios: 
11pt arabic numerals, flush right on odd pages, flush left on 
even pages, top aligning with running head. 
Bill and Session Number: 
On first page only, 11pt on 12pt roman upper and lowercase 
characters and arabic numerals, Bill number ranged left and 
Session number ranged right, set at bottom of page. 
Runners: 
11pt italic arabic numerals ranged right set within a 3 pica 
measure of 11pt on the right of the text.  
To appear every 5th line effective from the first line after 
the words of enactment and restarting every new page 
Schedules (other than Repeals Schedules) 
Measure: 34.5 
picas 
Title line: 
14pt roman caps 20% spread, centred over text: 
Schedule number title: 
11pt roman uppercase and arabic numerals centred over 
text: space of 36pts above 
Section reference number: 
8pt on 9pt roman upper and lowercase, ranged right, base 
aligned with Schedule number 
Schedule title: 
11pt on 12pt roman caps and small caps, centred over text: 
12pt space above 
Part number: 
11pt on 12pt roman caps and small caps and arabic 
numerals, centred over text: 12pt space above and below 
Part headings: 
11pt on 12pt roman caps and small caps, centred over text: 
12pt space above 
Sub-headings: 
11pt on 12pt italic upper and lowercase, ranged left: 12pt 
space above and below 
First level (paragraph) number: 
11pt on 12pt arabic numerals, set from a left indent of 0.5 
picas, 8pt space above 
First level (paragraph) text: 
11pt on 12pt roman upper and lowercase, set from a left 
indent of 4 picas, aligned with paragraph number 
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Schedules (other than Repeals Schedules) (continued
Second level (sub paragraph) 
11pt on 12pt roman lowercase characters and numerals set 
number 
in parentheses, ranged right and set to a measure of 3.5 
picas: space of 5pt above 
Second level (sub paragraph)  
11pt on 12pt roman upper and lowercase justified, set from 
text: 
a left indent of 4 picas, aligned with sub-paragraph number 
Third level (sub-sub-paragraph) 
11pt on 12pt roman lowercase numerals, ranged right and 
numbers 
set with parentheses.  Set to a measure of 6 picas space of 
2pts above. 
Third level (sub-sub-paragraph) 
11pt on 12pt roman upper and lowercase justified, set from 
text: 
a left indent of 7 picas, aligned with sub-sub-paragraph 
number 
Further levels of indentation are based on an additional 3 picas to the preceding measure (in the 
case of numbering) and an additional 3 picas to the preceding indent (in the case of text) 

Definitions text: 
Where (unnumbered) definitions text is indented the first 
line of the definition is set from a left indent equal to the 
measure for numbered text of the same level; and the second 
and subsequent lines are set from a further left indent of 1 
pica: space of 2pt above 
Inserted text: 
Where any level of clause or Schedule text is to be inserted 
in another Act the above specifications apply, with the 
measure and indentation for that level being increased by 
the level of indentation of the preceding text.  Thus text 
being inserted by a paragraph will be indented by the 
amount specified above plus 4 picas. 
Tables: 
Set to style provided (generally 11pt on 12pt roman upper 
and lowercase), with 11pt on 12pt italic upper and 
lowercase column headings.  
Top/bottom table rules 1pt weight set across measure: mid-
table cross and down rules 0.5pt weight unless otherwise 
specified. 
Running headline: 
9pt italic upper and lowercase, flush left on odd pages, flush 
right on even pages (“HL” where appearing in 8pt italic).  
Text of running head to consist of short tile of Bill, with 
Schedule number and title (with em dash between Schedule 
number and title (and any Part numbers and titles (with em 
dash between numbers and titles) on separate lines below.  
Schedule and Part references in running heads to describe 
text on first line of page.  
A rule of 0.5pt weight set on a 6pt body across the measure 
to appear below the running head(s). 
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Schedules (other than Repeals Schedules) (continued
Folios: 
11pt arabic numerals, flush right on odd pages, flush left on 
even pages, top aligning with running head. 
Runners: 
10pt italic arabic numerals ranged right set within a 3 pica 
measure to the right of the text.  
To appear every 5th line and restarting every new page 
Repeals Schedules 
 
Number of columns: 

Column headings: 
11pt on 12pt italic upper and lowercase, set above top rule 
and centred over column, to appear at the beginning of the 
table and on each new page 
Top/bottom rules: 
1pt weight set across measure 
Column widths: 
 
  Col 1: 
14 picas 
  Col 2: 
20.5 picas, 
separated by a 0.5pt gutter rule set on a body of 1.5 picas. 
Column headings 
11pt on 12pt italic upper and lowercase, centred over 
column on top rule, to repeat on each new page 
Text: 
11pt on 12pt roman upper and lowercase, justified; second 
and subsequent lines of each block of text set from a left 
indent of 1 pica (i.e. hanging indent). 
Continuation headers: 
to be set as necessary in Column 1, where entries for that 
provision in Column 2 go over a page:  
11pt on 12pt roman and italic upper and lowercase, in the 
following form: “XYZ Act 1900 (c. 00)-cont.” 
Endorsement 
 
Measure: 34.5 
picas 
Title line: 
18pt bold upper and lowercase, centred over text, “HL” 
where appearing in 16pt bold 
Title heading (if appearing) 
12pt on 14pt roman capitals, centred over text 
Title cross rules: 
Rule of 0.5pt weight set on an 18pt body followed by a rule 
of 1pt weight set on a 2pt body across the measure to appear 
underneath the title line(s) 
  “A”: 
11pt roman capitals, centred 
  “Bill”: 
14pt bold capitals, 20% spread 
Text of long title: 
11pt roman upper and lowercase.  Justified and set within 
left/right indent of 4 picas 
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Endorsement (continued
Sponsor name/brought from: 
11pt on 12pt italic upper and lower case, centred 
Print order: 
12pt italic upper and lowercase, set within rules of 1pt 
weight set on a 2pt body, extending 1 pica left and right 
beyond text, all centred 
Bill and session number: 
11pt on 12pt roman upper and lowercase characters and 
arabic numerals, Bill number ranged left and Session 
number ranged right, set at bottom of page. 
Sale imprint: 
10pt roman caps and upper and lowercase 
Copyright line: 
10pt roman upper and lowercase 
ISBN and barcode to be inserted by the printer. 
 
Acts 
 
The Act text is identical in format to the Bill text save for the following: 
 
(a) 
The Measure of the cover (where appearing) is 30 picas 
 
(b) 
The Royal Crest must appear on the cover (where appearing) and contents pages 
and on the first page of the text proper, centred at the top of the page. 
 
(c) 
The double rules under the title on the cover (where appearing) and contents 
pages are abolished. 
 
(d) 
The short title appears on the cover (where appearing), and first pages or contents 
and substantive text, centred below the crest, Book Antiqua upper and lowercase, 
point size as follows: 
Cover:36 pt 
Table of Contents (TOC):24 pt 
Substantive text:24pt 
 
(e) 
The Chapter number must appear on the cover (where appearing) and first page of 
TOC centred under the crest in Book Antiqua caps and arabic numerals, 12/14pt. 
 
(f) 
Any Explanatory Notes rubric on the cover (where appearing) is offset 45 pc from 
the top of the page, justified centre on the page, set within left/right indents of 3 
pc and within 1pt rules to run the width of the page 
 
(g) 
The year and Chapter number must appear on the first page of substantive text 
only, centred under the crest in Book Antiqua bold caps and arabic numerals, 
12/14pt. 
 
(h) 
Running heads and folios: 
 
the short title of the Bill is replaced by the short title of the Act followed by the 
chapter number in parentheses 
 
on the first page of the substantive text the running heads are replaced by the 
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Monarch’s regnal name in Book Antiqua bold caps and roman uppercase 
numbers. 11/12 pt centred, and the folio is replaced on that page by the chapter 
number in the form “c. xx”, Book Antiqua bold 12pt 
 
(i) 
The date of enactment appears on the last line of, or on the following line, of the 
long title, in the same format the as the title itself. 
 
(j) 
The Bill numbers and session numbers are eliminated. 
 
(k) 
Line numbering is eliminated. 
 
(l) 
The price on the cover page (where appearing) and the endorsement page are 
inserted by the printer. 
 
The software must enable the formats described at paragraphs (a) to (k) to be inserted so far as 
practicable automatically, for cover and TOC to be inserted or removed in any case and for the 
operation described at paragraph (l) to be carried out, on PostScript or equivalent files. 
 
 
 
Contract in relation to printing, publishing, content management and 
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dissemination services for United Kingdom, and England and Wales legislation 
and associated products              
 

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Contract in relation to printing, publishing, content management and 
dissemination services for United Kingdom, and England and Wales legislation 
and associated products  

 
ANNEX 4 
Specification No. 4.1 
 
APPENDIX B 
 
 
RECORD COPIES OF ACTS: PRINTING SPECIFICATION 
 
1. 
Background 
 
Two record copies of every Act (including Private Acts) are produced, which after 
examination in the Public (or Private) Bill Office (PBO), become the official copies of 
the Act. One copy is endorsed with the words by which the Royal Assent was signified, 
and is signed by the Clerk of the Parliaments.  This copy is held in the House of Lords 
Record Office.  The other copy is sent for custody to the National Archives. 
 
Provisional Order Confirmation Acts and Private Acts are printed according to the 
specification and timetable of the Private Bill Office, House of Lords. The Company will 
remain responsible for contracting or producing the record copy of such Acts under this 
specification.  These copies are printed on archival quality paper within a vellum cover. 
 
The remainder of this specification deals only with Public General Acts, which are 
printed throughout on vellum.  
 
Note: detailed production and financial arrangements regarding the production of record 
copies are subject to a separate contract to be agreed between the Company and the 
House of Lords.  
 
No record copies of Measures are produced. 
 
2. Size 
 
Currently 297 x 2l0mm (A4) 
 
3. Format 
 
A record copy may consist of any number of single leaves, enclosed by a wrap around 
cover, and tied with a red ribbon through three holes at the left-hand edge. 
 
4. Operations 
 
•  Amend as necessary from existing database (as used in the production of Chapters 
and Bound Volumes). 
•  Cover and arrangement pages to be deleted, together with Tables of Derivations and 
Destinations. 
•  New cover page to be set, the wording on the cover being taken by the Company from 
the existing database and set as specified in paragraph 7 below. 
•  Print both sides in black throughout, cut to single leaves. 
•  Gather with wrap around cover, drill 3 holes at left-hand edge, trim to size, and tie 
with red ribbon. 
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Where mistakes are found in record copies the PBO will authorise the issue of a 
correction slip or the reprint of a whole page or pages of the record copy. 
 
5. Page 
Content 
 
The page content of a public Act can vary from one page upwards (excluding cover) and 
the number of Acts produced will vary from year to year. There is considerable annual 
variation in the page content. 
 
6. Proofing 
Requirements 
 
Proofs, printed on paper not vellum, will be required of any Act pages which have been 
amended following the production of the Royal Assent copy and of any correction slip or 
reprinted pages of the record copy. Proofs are to be delivered to: 
 
Public and Private Bill Office  
House of Lords 
London 
SW1A OPW 
 
7. 
Page Layout, Type Faces and Type Sizes 
 
As specified in Appendix A.  
 
8.  Ink 
 

Record copies are to be printed throughout in black ink. 
 
9. Material 
 
True vellum.  Thin or medium grade are used for all large Acts, to ensure that larger Acts 
do not become too bulky.  Corrections are also printed on vellum. Specialist suppliers 
exist to provide true vellum. 
 
10. 
Quantity and Frequency 
 
Two record copies are produced in respect of every Act that is published, within six 
months after Royal Assent. It is the duty of the Company to monitor the time that has 
elapsed since Royal Assent and to set in hand arrangements for printing record copies. 
 
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Contract in relation to printing, publishing, content management and 
dissemination services for United Kingdom, and England and Wales legislation 
and associated products  

 
11. Copy 
 
No copy is usually supplied, the Company being required to take the text from the Act 
database and to produce the wording on the cover (see paragraph 4).  Where any 
additional amendments are to be incorporated, or where corrections or reprinted pages are 
required, copy will be supplied by the Public (or Private) Bill Office, House of Lords. 
 
12. Delivery 
 
All copies are to be delivered to: 
 
Public and Private Bill Office 
House of Lords 
London 
SW1A OPW 
 
13. Delivery 
timetable 
 
All record copies are to be delivered within a period beginning six calendar months after 
Royal Assent, and ending seven months after that date, unless otherwise agreed with the 
Public (or Private) Bill Office. 
 
14.   Quality 
standards 
 
The typeset image must meet a minimum standard of 1100 dpi at all times. Printing must 
be sharp and clear throughout the supply, and associated finishing operations shall be 
performed to a consistently high quality, the arbiter of acceptability in all instances being 
the customer. 
 
 15.    Performance and monitoring arrangements 
 
Delivery requirements must be fully met to ensure that the quality of service is 
maintained. Performance will be closely monitored by the customer or HMSO, who must 
be allowed access at all times.  
 
16.   Contingency 
provisions 
 
The Company must ensure that sufficient staff, equipment and facilities are available to 
maintain an uninterrupted supply of record copies 
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dissemination services for United Kingdom, and England and Wales legislation 
and associated products