Legal Definitions - Her Majesty's Stationery Office

Her Majesty's Stationery Office (often abbreviated historically as HMSO) was the official publisher for the United Kingdom government for over two centuries. Its primary role was to print, publish, and distribute a comprehensive range of government documents, including all Acts of Parliament, statutory instruments (laws made by ministers), official reports, command papers, and various other public information materials.

Essentially, HMSO was the authoritative source for official government publications, ensuring that legislation, policy documents, and public records were accurately produced and made accessible to the public. While the name "Her Majesty's Stationery Office" is historical, its core functions have evolved and are now carried out by various successor bodies and government departments, with much of the official publishing now handled digitally or by commercial publishers under contract.

Here are some examples illustrating the role of Her Majesty's Stationery Office:

• Example 1: Accessing Official Legislation

  Imagine a barrister in the 1960s needing to consult the definitive, printed version of the Road Traffic Act 1960 for a court case. They would have relied on a copy published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office. This illustrates HMSO's role as the sole official publisher of UK legislation, ensuring that legal professionals and the public had access to accurate and authoritative texts of the law.

• Example 2: Disseminating Government Reports

  A university researcher in the 1970s studying social policy might have sought out the official report of a Royal Commission on poverty. This report, containing detailed findings and recommendations, would have been published and distributed by Her Majesty's Stationery Office. This demonstrates HMSO's function in making important government-commissioned research and policy documents publicly available, informing academic study and public debate.

• Example 3: Providing Public Information Forms

  Consider a citizen in the 1980s needing to obtain official application forms for a passport or a driving licence, along with accompanying guidance booklets. These essential government documents, designed for public use, would have been printed and supplied by Her Majesty's Stationery Office. This highlights HMSO's broader responsibility for producing and distributing a wide array of practical government information and forms necessary for citizens to interact with public services.