This guide deals only with the publications and Internet sites for the House of Commons and House of Lords. For information on the Parliaments and Assemblies of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland or other regional assemblies, see the Devolved Parliaments and Assemblies website.
The call numbers listed in this Guide are for items held by the National Library of Australia. Call numbers with the prefix RF indicate that the item is in the Reference Collection in the Main Reading Room. The RX, RM, mp and mfm prefixes indicate that the item is held in the Newspapers and Microforms Reading Room. Other titles must be requested through the Catalogue - enquire at the Information Desk or telephone (02) 6262 1266.
Online resources
Debates
- What are debates?
- What the Library holds and Internet access
- Indexes to debates
- Retrieving volumes of 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 Standing Committees, whose chief function is to consider bills which are under consideration by the House, have their own Hansards.
What the Library holds
House of Commons
| Publication | Dates held | Call number |
| A Bibliography of Parliamentary debates of Great Britain. | 1066-1803 | RF 328.42 GREThis is a list of the many reports which have been published. National Library holdings have been annotated with the Library's call number. |
| Cobbett's parliamentary history of England: from the Norman conquest in 1066, to the year 1803. | Vol.1-v.12 (1066/1625 - 1741/1743). | CAC S 328.42 GRE |
| Parliamentary history of England | Vol.13-v.36 (1743/1747 - 1801/1803) | CAC S 328.42 GRE |
| Parliamentary debates during the ...session of the ...Parliament | Vol. 1 (1803-1804) | S 328.42 GRE |
| Parliamentary debates from the year 1803 to the present time | Vol. 2-v.41 (1804-1820) | CAC S 328.42 GRE |
| Parliamentary debates | New series vol.1-v.20 (1820-1829) | CAC S 328.42 GRE |
| Hansard's parliamentary debates | New series vol.21-v.25; 3rd series vol.1-v.356 (1829-1891) | CAC S 328.42 GRE |
| Parliamentary debates, authorised edition | 4th series vol. 1-v.199 (1892-1908) | CAC S 328.42 GRE |
| Parliamentary debates (official report) | 5th series vol. 1-v.7 (1909) | CAC S 328.42 GRE |
| Parliamentary debates (official report). House of Commons | 5th series vol.8-v.318 (1909-1936) | CAC S 328.42 GRE |
| Parliamentary debates. House of Commons official report | 5th series vol.319-v.393 (1937-1943) | CAC S 328.42 GRE |
| Parliamentary debates (Hansard). House of Commons official report | 5th series vol.394-v.1000; 6th series vol.1- (1943-) | CAC Sq 328.42 GRE |
| Debates - Internet | November 1988- | Select: Daily Debates or Bound Volume Debates. |
| The Controller's Library collection of Her Majesty's Stationery Office publications, 1922-1972- Microfilm | 1922-1940 | Mfm 1435 and finding list at RM mfm 1435This collection includes Bills, Journals, Debates and Papers |
| Parliamentary debates. Official report. Standing committees... | 1935/1936-1938/1939; 1944/45 | CAC S 328.42 GRE |
| Parliamentary debates (Hansard). House of Commons official report. Standing committees... | 1945/1946-1957/1958 | CAC S 328.42 GRE |
| Parliamentary debates. House of Commons official report. Standing committees... | 1959/1960- | CAC Sq 328.42 GRE |
| Other Standing Committee Debates - Internet | 1997/1998- | Summaries of proceedings and decisions are published separately as Minutes of proceedings in the House of Commons papers. |
| Standing Committee Debates on Bills - Internet | 1997/1998- | House of Commons Standing Committee debates listed by the title of the Bill currently being considered. See above column for further information. |
House of Lords
| Publication | Dates held | Call number |
| 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) | CAC S 328.42 GRE |
| Parliamentary debates (official report). House of Lords | 5th series vol. 2-v.103 (1909-1936) | CAC S 328.42 GRE |
| Parliamentary debates. House of Lords official report | 5th series vol.104-v.129 (1937-1943) | CAC S 328.42 GRE |
| Parliamentary debates (Hansard). House of Lords official report | 5th series vol.130- (1943)- | CAC Sq 328.42 GRE |
| Debates - Internet | November 1994- | Select: Daily Debates or Bound Volume Debates. |
Indexes to debates
The indexes to debates are published as part of the bound volumes of Debates. See entries above for House of Commons and House of Lords.
| Publication | Dates held |
| Indexes to the Daily Parts of the House of Commons Parliamentary debates - Internet | Current sessions. |
| Volume indexes to the House of Commons Parliamentaray debates - Internet | 17 November 1999- |
| Weekly indexes to the House of Lords Parliamentary debates - Internet | Current sessions |
| Volume indexes to the House of Lords Parliamentary debates - Internet | 6 December 2000- |
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 Get this button and the call slip will display. Type in the details of volume and/or date required and submit your request.
Journals
The Journals for each House are compiled daily from the Votes and Proceedings for the House of Commons and the Minutes of Proceedings for the House of Lords. They form the permanent record of the business dealt with in each session of Parliament. The Journals record only what was done, not what was said (which is the role of the Debates).
Each new sessional volume is published about two years after the end of the session.
| Publication | Dates held | Call Number |
|
Journals of the House of Commons Compiled from and largely supersede the daily Votes and Proceedings |
1547-1800 1801- Eight general indexes covering 1547-1879 and decennial indexes from then on. |
RSERef 328.42 GRE CAC Sef 328.42 GRE |
|
Journals of the House of Lords Compiled from and largely supersede the daily Minutes of Proceedings |
1509-1800 1801- General indexes from 1510-1853 and decennial indexes from then on. |
RSERef 328.42 GRE CAC Sef 328.42 GRE |
Votes and proceedings of the House of Commons
The daily records of the business of the House of Commons contain all the business that was transacted on the previous day. It includes Notices of motions and orders of the day.
Information contained in them can be found summarised in the sessional volumes of the Journals of the House of Commons.
| Title | Dates held | Call Number |
| Votes and proceedings of the House of Commons... | 1861-1891 | CAC Sq 328.42 GRE |
| Notices of motions and orders of the day... | 1861-1891 | CAC Sq 328.42 GRE |
| Votes and proceedings -Internet | 1998- |
Summary agendas and orders of business of the House of Commons
These list the business of the House of Commons for each day's sitting and are available on the Internet for the period October 1996 to the present.
Minutes of proceedings and order papers of the House of Lords
The daily records of the business of the House of Lords contain all the business that was transacted on the previous day.
Information contained in them can be found in the sessional volumes of the Journals of the House of Lords.
The House of Lords Business website contains information on minutes of proceedings and future business. The Minutes and Order Papers Archive is also available online.
Bills
- The passage of a bill through Parliament
- Library holdings of bills
- Indexes to bills
- Indexes to the debates on bills
- Retrieving bills
The passage of a bill through Parliament
A bill is a proposal for a new law which is debated by Parliament. There are separate sets of bills for both the Houses of Commons and Lords. Once passed by both Houses, the bill is given Royal Assent and becomes an Act.
The progress of a bill through Parliament follows the stages outlined below. For further information see Bills and Legislation.
| Stage | Description |
|---|---|
| First reading (1R) | Records the title of the bill which is read by the Clerk of the House. It is ordered to be printed and a date set for the second reading stage. |
| Second reading (2R) | One of the items which is most frequently requested from debates is the second reading of a bill. This is the stage when the principle of a bill is discussed.The ensuing debate is reported in Hansard with particulars of any division which may arise. In some cases the second reading may be ordered for a certain date, and then rescheduled several times before it is finally read and debated. |
| Committee stage. | When a bill has passed its second reading it is sent to be considered by a Standing Committee. A committee has no power to reject a bill but may amend particular clauses. |
| Report stage | If a bill is not amended in committee it passes to third reading stage. If there are amendments the House considers it in its amended form. It may be passed back to the Standing Committee. |
| Third reading | Little or no debate takes place at this stage. If passed, the bill proceeds to the House of Lords. |
| Lords stage | If no amendments are made in the House of Lords, the bill only needs Royal Assent to become an Act. If there are amendments, the bill is returned to the House of Commons. |
| Consideration of Lords amendments | These are examined one by one in the Commons, and if agreed to the House of Lords is notified and the bill is ready to receive Royal assent and pass into an act. If not, exchanges may be prolonged before agreement is reached. |
Library holdings of bills
See also the section on Parliamentary papers below.
House of Commons Bills
| Publications | Dates held | Call Number |
| House of Commons sessional papers of the eighteenth century 1715-1800 | 1715-1800 | CAC Sq 328.42 GRE Individual papers in this series may be located through the chronological and alphabetical indexes in volumes 1 and 2. Contains Bills ordered to be printed 1715-1800. |
| Parliamentary Papers (House of Commons and Command) | 1797-1976/77 | CAC Sq 328.42 GRE Bills are bound in the first several volumes of each session. |
| Bills | 1978- | CAC Sq 328.42 GRE Filed separately by session then by bill number |
| Bills before Parliament - Internet | Current | Includes Public, Private, Private Members', Draft and Hybrid Bills |
| Bills - Internet | Current | A complete list of public bills introduced in Parliament in the current session, together with information about their progress through Parliament, can be found in the Weekly Information Bulletin |
| Acts - Internet | 1988- | The Library also holds Acts in hard copy. See catalogue records under Great Britain. Laws, etc. |
House of Lords Bills
| Publication | Dates held | Call Number |
| House of Lords sessional papers | 1714-1805 | CAC Sq 328.42 GRE Bills are bound in the first several volumes of each session |
| House of Lords sessional papers - Microfilm | 1806-1859 | mfm 901 |
| Sessional papers of the House of Lords | 1806/1807-1984/1985 imperfect | CAC Sq 328.42 GRE Bills are bound in the first several volumes of each session |
| Bills | 1985/86-imperfect | CAC Sq 328.42 GRE |
| Bills before Parliament - Internet | Current | Includes Public, Private, Private Members', Draft and Hybrid Bills |
| Bills - Internet | Current | A complete list of public bills introduced in Parliament in the current session, together with information about their progress through Parliament, can be found in the Weekly Information Bulletin |
| Acts- Internet | 1988- | The Library also holds Acts in hard copy. See catalogue records under Great Britain. Laws, etc. |
Indexes to bills
| Publication | Dates held | Call Number |
| BOPCRIS-British official publications collaborative reader information service- Internet | 1688-1995 | |
| General index to the sessional papers... | 1714-1805 | RFq 328.42 G329 |
| General index to the sessional papers...Sessional Indexes from thereon. | 1801-1885 | RM mfm 901 |
| Index to the House of Commons Parliamentary Papers in eResources | 1801 - 2004 | |
Indexes to debates on bills
The indexes to debates on bills are published as part of the volumes of Debates above.
Retrieving bills
To request a bill, locate the catalogue record for the appropriate time period. Select the Request this button. The call slip will display. Type in the details of the bill number and parliamentary session date and submit your request.
Parliamentary papers
- What are parliamentary papers?
- What does the National Library hold?
- Identification of parliamentary papers
- Retrieval of parliamentary papers
What are parliamentary papers?
The British parliamentary paper set is a major research collection for the history and development of Great Britain and its colonies, including Australia. It contains reports and other documents presented to Parliament and printed over the centuries. Contemporary papers contain much information on British government policy and foreign relations. Documents include bills, treaties, committee reports, royal commissions and annual reports from government bodies.
House of Lords papers mostly concern bills before that House. The more significant ones tend to be republished as House of Commons papers.
House of Commons papers, House of Lords papers, and Command papers
Whenever the Houses of Commons or Lords requires the submission of a report and orders it to be printed, the resulting document is issued in a numbered series of House of Commons papers or House of Lords papers. They are sometimes prefixed by the initials HC or HL but usually only the paper number is quoted. A new numbering is begun for each parliamentary session. For further information see UK Parliament Factsheet P12, House of Commons papers.
Command papers are so called because they are presented "by command of Her/His Majesty." Command paper numbering is continuous over several years with prefixes C, Cl, Cd, Cmd, Cmnd or Cm allocated to different time periods. They are bound in with the House of Commons papers up to session 1976-1977. To retrieve a command paper before that date, the session and volume number need to be quoted. For further information see UK Parliament Factsheet P13, Command papers.
What does the National Library hold?
House of Commons
| Publications | Dates held | Call Number |
| House of Commons sessional papers of the eighteenth century 1715-1800 | 1715-1800 | CAC Sq 328.42 GRE Individual papers in this series may be located through the chronological and alphabetical indexes in volumes 1 and 2.*Many papers for this period are also included in the Journals of the House of Commons and Journals of the House of Lords. See section Journals above. |
| Reports from Committees of the House of Commons | 1715-1802 | CAC Sef 328.42 GRE |
| Reports from Committees of the House of Commons which have been printed by order of the House and are NOT inserted in the journals -Microfilm. (Goldsmith's-Kress library of economic literature; no. 18600) | 1803-1806 | mfm 1314 |
| House of Commons Parliamentary Papers (HCPP Online) | 1801-1900 | Provides full text online access to nineteenth century parliamentary papers. |
| Parliamentary Papers (House of Commons and Command) | 1797-1976/1977Almost complete holdings. | CAC Sq 328.42 GRE |
| Parliamentary papers (House of Commons and Command-Microprint | 1731/1800-1810 | mp 6 |
| House of Commons papers | 1977/1978- | CAC Sq 328.42 GRE |
| Command papers | 1978- | CAC Sq 328.42 GRE |
| Command papers - Internet | 1994-2005, selection only. May 2005-, complete records |
House of Lords
| Publications | Dates held | Call Number |
| House of Lords sessional papers | 1714-1805 | CAC Sq 328.42 GRE |
| House of Lords sessional papers - Microfilm | 1806-1859 | mfm 901 |
| Sessional papers of the House of Lords | 1806/1807-1984/1985. Holdings imperfect | CAC Sq 328.42 GRE |
| Papers | 1985/1986- | CAC Sq 328.42 GRE |
Identification of parliamentary papers
Parliamentary papers may be identified and located through the following indexes. See also section Indexes to Bills above.
| Publication | Dates held | Call Number |
| BOPCRIS-British official publications collaborative reader information service - Internet | 1688-1995 | |
| Hansard's catalogue and breviate of Parliamentary papers 1696 to 1834 | 1696-1834 |
RF 328.4204 G786 |
| General index to the accounts and papers, reports of commissioners, estimates, &c.&c... | 1801-1852 | CAC Sq328.42 GRE |
| Subject catalogue of the House of Commons Parliamentary papers, 1801-1900 | 1801-1900 | RFq 328.42 GRE |
| Index to the House of Commons Parliamentary Papers in eResources | 1801 - 2004 | House of Commons Parliamentary Papers |
| General alphabetical index to the bills, reports, estimates and papers... | 1852-1899 | 328.42 GRE |
| General index to the bills, reports and papers printed... 1900 to 1948-49 | 1900-1948/1949 | RF 328.42 G786 |
| General alphabetical index to the bills, reports and papers printed...1969-70 to 1978-79. | 1969/1970-1978/1979 | Sq 328.42 GRE |
| UK Official Documents | 1951-Current (Selected documents) | Internet access |
How to identify a report of a committee by the name of its chairman
| Publication | Dates held | Call Number |
| British government publications : an index to chairmen of committees and commissions of inquiry | v. 1. 1800-1899 v. 2. 1900-1940 v. 3. 1941-1978 v. 4. 1979-1982 |
RF 328.42 R513 |
| House of Commons Parliamentary Papers in eResources |
1801 - 1996 Can search by chairman of committee |
|
Retrieval Of parliamentary papers
To request parliamentary papers, locate the catalogue record for the appropriate time period. Select the Get this button. The call slip will display. Where appropriate, type in the details of volume and parliamentary session date then submit your request.
Command Papers
To request a Command Paper, locate the catalogue record for the appropriate time period. Select the Get this button. The call slip will display. Type in the details of the paper number and parliamentary session date. Submit your request.
If only the Command Paper number is known, the finding lists below need to be checked. These indexes will translate the Command Paper number into the volume number and parliamentary session.
| Publication | Dates held | Call Number |
| House of Commons Parliamentary Papers- eResources | 1688-1995 | |
| Numerical finding list of British command papers published 1833-1961/62 | 1833-1962 | RF 328.4201 D559 |
| British command papers: a numerical finding list 1962/63-1976/77 | 1962-1977 | YY 015.41 M119 |
House of Commons and House of Lords Papers
To request a House of Commons paper, locate the catalogue record for the appropriate time period. Select the Get this button. The call slip will display. Type in the details of the paper number and parliamentary session date. Submit your request.
Reference works
For detailed descriptions of British parliamentary publications, refer to these books in the Reference Collection in the Main Reading Room. The UK Parliament website contains much useful information on all aspects of the working and publications of the Parliament.
- Dod's parliamentary companion. Hailsham, Eng.: Dod's Parliamentary Companion, Ltd. 1904-. Latest issue in Main Reading Room Reference Collection. Call No: RF 328.42 DOD
- Cockton, Peter, Subect Catalogue of the House of Commons Parliamentary Papers, 1801-1900, 5 volumes. Call No: Rfq 328.42 GRE
- Who's who of British members of Parliament : a biographical dictionary of the House of Commons based on annual volumes of Dod's Parliamentary companion and other sources [edited by] Michael Stenton. 4 volumes Hassocks, Eng.: Humanities Press, 1976-1981. Call No: RF 328.410922 W628
- Bond, Maurice F. Guide to the records of Parliament London : HMSO, 1971. Call No: RF S 328.42 B711
- Ford, P (Percy). Select list of British parliamentary papers, 1833-1899. Oxford: Blackwell, 1953. Call No: RF 328.42 F711
- Ford, P (Percy). A breviate of Parliamentary papers, 1900-1916. Oxford: Blackwell, 1957. Call No: RF S 328.4204 FOR
- Ford, P (Percy). A breviate of Parliamentary papers, 1917-1939. Oxford: Blackwell, 1951. Call No: RF S 328.4204 FOR
- Ford, P (Percy). A breviate of Parliamentary papers, 1940-1954. Oxford: Blackwell, 1961. Call No: RF S 328.4204 FOR
- Ford, P (Percy). Select list of British Parliamentary papers 1955-1964. Shannon: Irish University Press,1970. Call No: RF 328.4204 F711
- Ford, P (Percy).Ford list of British Parliamentary papers 1974-1983 together with specialist commentaries. Cambridge: Chadwyck-Healey, 1989. Call No: RFq 328.4204/FOR
- House of Commons Library A Bibliography of Parliamentary debates of Great Britain. London : HMSO, 1956. Call No: RF 328.42 GRE
