Statute law

Acts of Parliament are the most significant form of statute law. Parliamentary Bills become Acts of Parliament when they have passed through the House of Commons and the House of Lords and have received Royal Assent. An Act of Parliament then becomes law, although it may not come into force immediately. Acts of Parliament have a short title and a chapter number, for example, the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (c. 36).

The Public general acts & general synod measures (LAWS 344.41022/PUB) is the official series that contains the text of Acts of Parliament. Since 1988, Acts of Parliament are also published on the government's legislation web site: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/. They are also available in the legal databases Lexis Library and Westlaw UK.

Another source for Acts of Parliament in the library is Current Law Statutes (LAWS 344.41022/CUR). This includes useful additional notes.

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