Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Environment – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 6 July 1983.
Mr Patrick Jenkin
, Wanstead and Woodford
12:00,
6 July 1983
We shall shortly be giving full details of our proposed rate reforms in a white paper.
A document issued by the Government laying out its policy, or proposed policy, on a topic of current concern.Although a white paper may occasion consultation as to the details of new legislation, it does signify a clear intention on the part of a government to pass new law. This is a contrast with green papers, which are issued less frequently, are more open-ended and may merely propose a strategy to be implemented in the details of other legislation.
More from wikipedia here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_paper