Shoulder numbers explained

The paper reference or shoulder numbers are located in the top right hand corner of agendas, papers and minutes. The identifier of the committee is given, followed by the year and the individual number of the document. For example:

  • The shoulder number on an agenda indicates the number of a particular meeting. LEG Ag (09) 3 is the third agenda for 2009 for the Cabinet Legislation Committee.
  • The shoulder number on a paper identifies the individual Cabinet or Cabinet committee paper. CAB (09) 61 is the sixty-first consecutively numbered paper distributed to Cabinet in 2009. Paper numbers are allocated to papers in order of receipt.
  • The shoulder number on a minute shows the meeting number and the agenda item number. ERD Min (09) 2/3 is a minute dealing with the third item on the second agenda for the Cabinet External Relations and Defence Committee in 2009.

An additional agenda will have the same reference as the main agenda, but with the addition of "add 1" - for example, CAB Ag (09) 16 add 1.

Revised versions of agendas, papers or minutes will have the same reference as the original version, but with the addition of "rev 1" - for example, LEG Ag (09) 3 rev 1.

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