National Archives for Legislation

The National Archives is a United Kingdom government department and an executive agency of the Ministry of Justice. We are a centre of expertise in every aspect of creating, storing, using and managing official information.


As the official government archive for England, Wales and the United Kingdom, we hold over 1,000 years of the nation's records for everyone to discover and use.
We work with 250 government and public sector bodies, helping them to manage and use information more effectively.
We promote the re-use of public sector information and regulate the information-trading activities of organisations that create and collect public sector information.
We manage Crown and Parliamentary copyright.
We provide leadership, support and guidance to the wider archive sector in England and Wales.
We preserve the UK public record, and make it accessible. Our expert advice and guidance help members of the public and researchers of all kinds to study the information held in our collection, and to explore the history of our nation and their own ancestors. At the same time, we champion wider access to information generated by the public sector, so that it can be shared and re-used by citizens, community groups and businesses.


Her Majesty’s Stationery Office (HMSO) was founded in 1786. It is the holder of Crown copyright and has been the official printer and publisher of all Acts of Parliament since 1889.


Between 2003 and 2006, HMSO was one of four government bodies that came together to form The National Archives, joining with the Public Record Office, the Office of Public Sector Information and the Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts. Each of these organisations specialised in different aspects of managing important information.


Today the National Archives brings together the skills and specialisms needed in our digital world for managing and preserving government information past, present and future – and for making it accessible to its users.

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