British Parliament debates
What are debates?
British Parliamentary debates are of interest to those studying public issues in Great Britain, particularly social and political history, law, etc.. Debates are often concerned with bills which are draft versions of a proposed act of Parliament. Debates also contain parliamentary questions and debates on issues of national importance.
Parliamentary debates are also known as Hansard. Hansard is the official report of the proceedings of the British Parliament and record what is said in the House. The name Hansard was officially adopted in 1943 after Luke Hansard (1752-1828) who was the printer of the House of Commons Journal from 1774.
House of Commons General Committees, whose chief function is to consider proposed bills, have their own Hansards. A Public Bill Committee is named after the Bill it considers, e.g. a committee considering a Bill titled the Climate Bill would be called the Climate Bill Committee. The House of Lords do not have these committees.
Library holdings and online access
| Publication | Time period | Access links |
|---|---|---|
| Cobbett's parliamentary history of England: from the Norman conquest in 1066, to the year 1803. | Vol. 1 (1066-1625) to Vol. 12 (1741/1743) NB: Early debates may not be faithful to the actual words spoken by Members of Parliament. | Visit our eResources portal and search for the resource U.K. Parliamentary Papers under the Browse eResources tab. |
| Parliamentary history of England (Hansard) | Vol. 13 (1743/1747) to Vol. 36 (1801/1803) | Controlled Access Collection |
| Parliamentary debates during the ...session of the ...Parliament | 1st Series, Vol. 1, 22nd Nov. 1803 to 29th Mar. 1804 | Visit our eResources portal and search for the resource U.K. Parliamentary Papers under the Browse eResources tab. |
| Parliamentary debates from the year 1803 to the present time | 1st Series, Vol. 2 to Vol. 41, 1804-1820 | Visit our eResources portal and search for the resource U.K. Parliamentary Papers under the Browse eResources tab. |
| The Parliamentary debates, New (2nd) Series. | 2nd Series, Vol.1-v.20, 1820-1829 | Visit our eResources portal and search for the resource U.K. Parliamentary Papers under the Browse eResources tab. |
| Hansard's parliamentary debates (New series) | 2nd Series, Vol.21 to Vol.25, (1829-1830) 3rd series, Vol.1 to Vol. 356, 1830-1891 | Visit our eResources portal and search for the resource U.K. Parliamentary Papers under the Browse eResources tab. |
| Parliamentary debates, authorised edition | 4th series, vol. 1-v.199, 1892-1908 | Visit our eResources portal and search for the resource U.K. Parliamentary Papers under the Browse eResources tab. |
| Parliamentary debates (official report) | 5th series, vol. 1-v.7 (1909) | Visit our eResources portal and search for the resource U.K. Parliamentary Papers under the Browse eResources tab. |
| Parliamentary debates (official report). | 5th series, vol.8-v.318, (1909-1936) | Visit our eResources portal and search for the resource U.K. Parliamentary Papers under the Browse eResources tab. |
| Parliamentary debates. House of Commons official report | 5th series, vol.319-v.393, (1937-1943) | Visit our eResources portal and search for the resource U.K. Parliamentary Papers under the Browse eResources tab. |
| Parliamentary debates (Hansard). House of Commons official report | 5th series, vol.394-v.1000, (1942/43-1980/81) 6th series, vol.1-vol 561, (1943-2012) | Controlled Access Collection (not complete) Visit our eResources portal and search for the resource U.K. Parliamentary Papers under the Browse eResources tab (to 2009) Online (to 2004) |
| House of Commons debates by date | November 1988+ | Online |
| Publication | Time period | Access links |
|---|---|---|
| Parliamentary debates. Official report. Standing committees | 1935/36-1938/39; 1944/45 | Controlled Access Collection |
| Parliamentary debates (Hansard). House of Commons official report. Standing committees... | 1945/46-1954/55; 1956/57-1957/58 | Controlled Access Collection |
| Parliamentary debates. House of Commons official report. Standing committees... | 1959/1960-2006 | Controlled Access Collection |
| General Committee debates (previously Standing Committees) | 1997/98+ | Online |
| Commons Public Bill Committee debates (previously Standing Committees on Bills) | 1997/98+ | Online |
| Publication | Time period | Access links |
|---|---|---|
| Debates | 1066-1909 | See above under House of Commons. Prior to 1909, House of Commons and House of Lords Debates were published together. |
| Parliamentary debates (official report) | 5th series vol. 1 (1909) | |
| Parliamentary debates (official report). House of Lords | 5th series vol. 2-v.103 (1909-1936) | |
| Parliamentary debates. House of Lords official report | 5th series vol.104-v.129 (1937-1943) | |
| Parliamentary debates (Hansard). House of Lords official report | 5th series (1943 -2011) | |
| House of Lords Debates | November 1995/96 to date | Online |
Retrieving volumes of debates
The indexes to the debates enable searches by subject, speaker, bill etc. Note the volume (if applicable) and page number.
If you have the specific date, i.e. the day, month and year, this information is sufficient to retrieve the correct volume.
To request Debates, locate the catalogue record for the appropriate time period and House. Select the Request button. On the next page, type in the details of volume and/or date required and submit your request.
If you don't know the date, please contact our Ask a Librarian service for assistance.
Indexes to debates
The indexes to debates are published as part of the bound volumes of Debates. See relevant entries for House of Commons and House of Lords.
Online access to indexes are found at Parliament.uk. Use the Index link on the following pages:
Speaker's Chair
This chair was used as the Speaker’s Chair between 1927 and 1988 and is still located in the House of Representatives Chamber at the Museum of Australian Democracy, Old Parliament House.
The chair represents the ties between England and Australia and reflects a history of continuity through the inherited Westminster system of Parliament. Read more at the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House website.
William James Mildenhall, Speaker's Chair presented by House of Commons, 1926, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-141430941
William James Mildenhall, Speaker's Chair presented by House of Commons, 1926, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-141430941
In this guide
C. E Wagstaff & George Baxter, (1841), The arrival of Her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria at the House of Lords to open the first Parliament of her reign, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-136108572
