SR Validation

Using the Validation Service

The Validation Service is an essential building block for the efficient and accurate production and publication of Statutory Instruments and Statutory Rules in both print and electronic format on legislation.gov.uk. The Validation Service provides a thorough diagnostic evaluation of documents by checking:

• structure
• use of template styles

This is achieved by testing documents drafted in the SI Template, paragraph by paragraph, against a set of pre-defined rules.  These rules include what paragraphs may precede or follow and what mark up is permitted in that paragraph.

Note:  Validation does not check the text of the Instrument or that the Instrument is correctly drafted.

The Validation Service then provides the user with a Validation Report which details whether the Instrument has passed validation.  This report, used in conjunction with the Validation Error Guide and the SI Template User Manual, helps users to fix identified errors.