Regulations in United Kingdom

Definition of Regulations

Regulations are ‘directly applicable’ and have direct effect both vertically and horizontally.

Locating British Regulations

Halsbury’s Statutory Instruments contains all statutory instruments and statutory rules and orders which are of general application throughout England and Wales or which, while applying partly or principally outside England and Wales, have reciprocal force therein.

It provides a complete classification of all instruments that are in force and within its scope, and the text of a selection of rules, orders and regulations chosen for their usefulness to for the practicing lawyer. The series consists of twenty-three volumes that are arranged in order of the titles listed inside the front cover of each volume. These volumes are kept up to date by the Noter-Up Service contained in loose-leaf binders.

The following section tells you how to find British regulations given certain information.

Given the subject matter of the regulation

• Consult the Consolidated Index of Halsbury’s Statutory Instruments (Reg. U.K. B1 A13 LAW v. 1-24). Find the general subject heading and specific sub-heading. There is a reference to the volume (in bold) and page number of the main volume where the relevant information appears. This is followed by the citation of the regulation in brackets.
• Consult the Service Binder #1 . Check in the “Annual Supplement” section under the volume and title of the regulation found in step 1 for any changes and additions.
• Consult the “Monthly Survey Key” section in the Service Binder #1. Check under the appropriate volume number and title.

Given the citation

• Consult the “Chronological List of Instruments” in the Service Binder #1 . This list will indicate the title under which the regulation is found in the main work.
• Turn to the volume and title of the main work. At the end of each title is another “Chronological List of Instruments.” Find the regulation and turn to the page indicated.
• Check the most recent annual Cumulative Supplement for the title, under the volume and page number for any relevant changes.
• Consult the “Monthly Survey Key” under the title and regulation number for any relevant changes.

Given the enabling statute

• Consult the “Table of Statutes” in the Service Binder #1 . This table will tell you under which title relevant regulations can be found.
• Find the volume of the main work in which the relevant title is found. Turn to the “Chronological List of Instruments” at the back of the title. Scan the list until you find the appropriate regulation.
• Check the most recent annual Cumulative Supplement for the title, under the volume and page number for any relevant changes.
• Consult the “Monthly Survey Key” under the title and regulation number for any relevant changes (update procedure).

Citation of British Regulations

For detailed information on citation of British Regulations and about citations in general, see here.