Command and House Papers supplier services

There is a tailored production and distribution service to help government organisations meet the required standards for Command and House Papers.

This service is provided through Lot 1 of the Print Management Services Framework RM6170 (framework), let to HH Global.

The framework is managed on behalf of government by the Crown Commercial Service (CCS). Any queries regarding the framework should be sent to the CCS at ccsprintteam@crowncommercial.gov.uk.

When to use the Lot 1 Command and House Paper Service?

All numbered Command and House of Commons Papers must include page furniture and an official ISBN from HH Global. HH Global also provides Parliament with print copies for MPs and Peers.

  • These points apply regardless of what other suppliers or services might be used. There are no exceptions.
  • Contact HH Global at commandandhouse.team@hhglobal.com or phone +44 (0)20 3968 4725. Do this in good time to mitigate risk, especially with papers that need several formats.
  • If you only need page furniture and an ISBN from HH Global, you must confirm the paper’s final laying date to HH Global before the day of laying.
  • The CCS has produced customer guidance (section 6.4) about the Command and House Paper Service.
  • Unnumbered papers: this service is optional for unnumbered Command and Act Papers.

Parliamentary format requirements

If you are producing a paper always check Parliament’s format requirements with the relevant parliamentary clerk’s team, which may be in a parent department.

Laying

Parliament currently requires papers to be laid as PDFs (see specific format in the paragraph below), emailed from the appropriate parliamentary clerk’s team. The Vote Office must be copied into the House of Commons laying emails. PDF laying does not, however, preclude Parliament’s need for print copies.

Laying PDF format

The PDF file submitted for laying should contain the paper in a single-page format in page order‚ including front and back cover pages‚ inside cover pages and any blank pages. It should not have crop marks or bleed areas and any colour included should be in CMYK‚ with any images at high resolution of 300dpi. The PDF should not normally contain scans and the main text should be selectable and searchable where possible. The purpose of this format is to allow papers to be reviewed and‚ if necessary‚ printed on a desktop printer. This and other laying information can be found in the UK Parliament’s Guide to Laying Papers.

MPs and Peers

For papers to be laid in PDF, also plan for MPs and Peers to have print copies immediately after laying. Copies for Members are not laying copies but must be the same version as the laid PDF. To facilitate these copies ensure HH Global has either:

  1. A print-ready PDF of the final version approved for laying, as required by HH Global to print and deliver copies to Parliament; or
  2. Print copies of the final approved version for laying, as required by HH Global to deliver to Parliament

An exception is annual reports and accounts from non-ministerial departments, agencies and other public bodies listed here. For these papers Parliament does not need print copies for Members. Instead, it is enough to ensure that the Vote Office is copied into the House of Commons laying email.

MPs and Peers copies printed by HH Global are billed directly to Parliament.

20pt Arial and alternative formats

In addition to a print-ready PDF for laying, Parliament may also require a large print 20pt Arial version, in either print or a print-ready PDF at be available at laying. It is recommended that a 20pt Arial version is initially planned for and then confirmed by the relevant parliamentary clerk. If a 20pt Arial version is likely, conversion might be easier if the original document is created in Word (not InDesign for example) with no infographics. Tables do not need to be enlarged.

Alternative formats have their own production timelines and need planning. This could be important if timelines are tight. Web accessible PDFs and 20pt Arial versions require a number of days to produce after the laying version is signed off. More detail can be found in Accessibility and alternative formats.

Using the Command and House Paper Service

HH Global tailored services:

  • Expert advice about papers’ production and distribution specifications and processes
  • Provision of quotations and timelines
  • Provision and assurance of publication furniture including an ISBN, E number and copyright statement
  • Bibliographic and information services
  • Publication furniture proofing
  • Managing proofing and sign-off of content
  • Demand management of print copy quantities
  • Print management
  • Provision of copies of print-ready PDFs and web-optimised PDFs
  • Alternative formats, including web accessible PDFs and large print/20pt Arial
  • Access to other services, such as typesetting, design, proof reading, reprints and services to correct papers
  • Facilitation of the delivery of print copies for Parliament (not laying print copies)

Contact HH Global in good time for planning purposes and to mitigate risk.

If your organisation is not using HH Global for print copies

If you are not printing copies with HH Global you still need to ensure print copies for MPs and Peers to meet your organisation’s parliamentary obligations. See ‘MPs and Peers’ above.

Contact HH Global in good time to find out if MPs and Peers need print copies. If print copies are needed, HH Global will confirm:

  1. The date and time you must supply HH Global with a print-ready PDF of the final version approved for laying; or
  2. If a print-ready PDF is not being supplied:
  • the number of print copies you must deliver to HH Global for onward delivery to Parliament (not laying copies)
  • the labelling, packing and delivery instructions for the print copies
  • the date and time by which correctly labelled and packaged print copies must be delivered to HH Global, ensuring parcels are marked FAO the contact advised by HH Global

Also in Parliamentary papers guidance