LibGuides: Guide to the British Parliamentary Papers: Debates

British Parliamentary Papers

Recommended Resources

Debates (Hansard) are the records of parliamentary speeches. No official verbatim record of the debates in the House of Commons began until 1909. Prior to 1909, the two houses of Parliament jointly published their debates.

House of Commons

Cobbett's parliamentary history of England from the Norman conquest in 1066, to the year 1803
Call Number: 328.42 C6
No index, use table of contents in each volume
The Parliamentary register; or, History of the proceedings and debates of the House of Commons
Call Number: 328.42 C56

House of Commons Parliamentary Papers This link opens in a new window
Dates of coverage vary. Unlimited users.
Includes digital versions of the U.K. House of Commons Sessional Papers.
Sessional papers fall into the following three categories:
- Bills - drafts of legislation, to be reviewed through various parliamentary stages. If the Bill passes through these stages, it will become an Act of Parliament.
- House Papers - documents resulting from the work of the House and its Committees.
- Command Papers - Government papers (from Ministers) conveying information or decisions the Government wishes to draw to the attention of the House, presented ‘by Command of Her Majesty’.
Does not include debates (Hansard) or the House of Commons Journal.
Access provided to the following collections:
- 18th century (1688-1834)
- 19th century(1801-1900)
- 20th century (1901-2003/04 session)