Also, in contrast with previous collections, the full text of each act is printed regardless of whether it was still in force at the time of publication.

[4] The committee recommended the "extreme importance" of obtaining a "complete and authentic publication of the statutes".

[4] The Parliament of the United Kingdom, formed in 1800, following the Acts of Union 1800 devoted much attention to the consolidation of public records.

[5] The committee reported on 4 July 1800, resolving that it was "highly expedient for the honour of the nation and the benefit of all His Majesty's subjects that a complete and authoritative edition of all the statutes should be published".

[3][6] Following the publication of the select committee's report, recommendations were made in an address to the crown on 11 July 1800,[5] leading to the creation of the First Record Commission on 19 July 1800[3][7] At their first sitting on 19 December 1800, the commissioners resolved "That a complete, and authentic collection of the Statutes of the Realm be prepared; including every Law, as well those repealed or expired as those now in force; with a Chronological List of them, and Tables of their principal Matters",[3] and appointed barristers Alexander Luders, Thomas Edlyne Tomlins and John France as sub-commissioners to prepare the work.

[7] On 24 May 1802, the sub-commissioners laid their plans before the Board, specifying the sources of materials, the selection to be made, the arrangement and distribution of the work, and were authorised to proceed.

[7] On 23 May 1806, the search for records by William Illingworth and Sir Thomas Edlyne Tomlins was expanded to universities, cathedrals and other public repositories in England and Ireland, who reported back on 23 March 1807.

[3] On 29 June 1816, the Record Commissioners ordered that a General Index to the Statutes of the Realm, one alphabetical and one chronological, be framed.

The tenth volume, containing an alphabetical index to the statutes, was published in 1824, pursuant to an order of the Record Commissioners dated 27 April 1822.

[8] The eleventh volume, containing a chronological index to the statutes, was published in 1828, following John Raithby's death in August that year.

[3] In 1828, the first edition of Chitty's Statutes of Practical Utility was published in two volumes, edited by Joseph Chitty, which printed all statutes relevant to practicing lawyers with short notes, grouped under subject and arranged alphabetically.