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UK Primary Legislation

  • Primary legislation is not included in the Bibliography.
  • Statutes are divided into sections, and may be supplemented by schedules. Abbreviations for these sections can be found below.

 

In-text

Section 5(1)(a) of the Race Relations Act 1976 provides …

As discussed above, s 11(1A) of the Limitation Act 1980 …

 

Footnote

Do not use 'The' at the start of the title.

If multiple jurisdictions are under discussion, include the abbreviation of the jurisdictions in round brackets at the end of the footnote, before the pinpoint.

 

n Short Title of Act Year, section or part of Act.

2 Water Resources Act 1991, s 3(b).

3 Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), 5D(1)(a). In this example, NSW denotes New South Wales, Australia

 

Abbreviations for parts of statutes

part / parts: pt  /pts

section / sections: s / ss

subsection / subsections: sub-s / sub-ss

paragraph / paragraphs: para / paras

subparagraph / subparagraphs: subpara / subparas

schedule / schedules: sch / schs

 

  • Explanatory Notes are not included in the Bibliography.
  • Use 'Explanatory Notes to the' prior to the name of act and year.
  • Pinpoint to particular paragraphs using para and then the number.

 

Footnote

n Explanatory Notes to Title Year, pinpoint.

1 Explanatory Notes to the Charities Act 2006, para 15.

 

  • Bills are not included in the Bibliography. 
  • Use House of Commons (HC) or House of Lords (HL) followed by the session years and Bill number.
  • Note that HC Bill numbers are given in round brackets. HL Bill numbers have no brackets. 
  • If you are using part of a Bill, use the guidance and section abbreviations provided for Legislation. 

 

Footnote

n Title  HC Bill (session) [number].

OR

n Title HL Bill (session) number.

 

11 Consolidated Fund HC Bill (2008–2009) [5].

12 Academies HL Bill (2010–11) 1, cl 8(2).

 

  • When using EU legislation which has been assimilated into UK law, add the word 'Assimilated' before the title of the legislation, and replace the OJ reference with one to the amending UK statutory instrument. 

 

Footnote for original EU regulation

25 Regulation (EC) No 593/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 June 2008 on the law applicable to contractual obligations [2008] OJ L177/6 (‘Rome I Regulation (EU)’).

 

Same source but assimilated into UK law:

 

Footnote for Assimilated EU regulation

25 Assimilated Regulation (EC) No 593/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 June 2008 on the law applicable to contractual obligations, as amended by SI 2019/834, reg 10 (‘Rome I Regulation (Assimilated)’).

 

UK Secondary Legislation

  • Statutory instruments are not included in the Bibliography.
  • Statutory instruments are numbered consecutively throughout the year. The year combines with the serial number to give an SI number.
  • Statutory instruments are divided into sections. Abbreviations for these sections can be found below.

 

In-text

The Penalties for Disorderly Behaviour (Amendment of Minimum Age) Order 2004 provides…

As discussed above, reg 7(2) of the Eggs and Chicks (England) Regulations 2009…

 

Footnote

n Title Year, SI number, pinpoint if required.

21 Penalties for Disorderly Behaviour (Amendment of Minimum Age) Order 2004, SI 2004/3166.

22 Eggs and Chicks (England) Regulations 2009, SI 2009/2163, reg 7(2). In this example, reg 7(2) is the pinpoint.

 

 

Abbreviations for parts of statutory instruments

article / articles: art / arts

regulation / regulations: reg / regs

rule / rules: r / rr