6. All statutory instruments are required to be classified as general or local (a)[1]. Those which are in the nature of public general Acts of Parliament are classified as general and those which are in the nature of local and personal or private Acts are classified as local. Exceptionally, a very small number of instruments, relating for the most part to London, which fall within the second category are classified as general and their text is reproduced in the Annual Volume.
Citation
7. For purposes of citation, most statutory instruments are given a title. In addition, all statutory instruments may be identified by the year and number. The first instrument in Part I of this Volume would, by this method, be cited as "S.I. 1964/1". When a statutory instrument is referred to by its title in another statutory instrument, a lettered footnote is provided in the latter, giving the identification of the first instrument as above, and also its Part and page reference in the Annual Volume.The footnote reference for the same instrument would therefore be " S.I. 1964/1 (1964 I, p. 1)".
If the text of the instrument is set out in the most recent edition of S.R. & O. and S.I. Revised (Third Edition, as at 31st Dec., 1948) the footnote references give the volume reference in that edition as well as the page reference in the Annual Volume (see, for example, footnote (b) on the previous page). If a footnote contains the references of a number of instruments, they may in certain circumstances be run together, so as to give all the instrument numbers together and all the volume references together, e.g. "S.R. & O. 1946/157; S.I. 1948/1073, 1961/1942 (1946 II, p. 26; 1948 II, p. 13; 1961 III, p. 3650)".
Production in Court
8. Under the Documentary Evidence Act 1868(b)[2], s. 2, prima facie evidence of certain instruments (which include all instruments registered as S.I.) may be given in courts of justice, etc., by (inter alia) the production of a copy purporting to be printed by the Government Printer. The Documentary Evidence Act 1882(c)[3], s. 2, provides that the same result shall follow if a copy is produced which purports to be printed under the superintendence or authority of H.M. Stationery Office . Any Part of this Volume may therefore be tendered as prima facie evidence of the instruments whose text is reproduced in it.
Up to date information on statutory instruments
9. The Index (formerly "Guide" ) to Government Orders contains, under subject headings, summaries of all powers to make subordinate legislation conferred by statute on H.M. in Council, the Privy Council, government departments and certain other public bodies. Below each summary appear particulars of the general instruments made in exercise of it which were in force at the date of publication of the Index. Details are also given of certain instruments made under prerogative powers. The work contains also a Table of Statutes showing the subject headings under which references to particular sections of enabling Acts appear. (The Index is published every two years.)
