Librarian
Debates and Proceedings
DEBATES
Debates are the records of parliamentary speeches. Until the early 20th Century the published debates were unofficial and often based on secondary reports such as newspaper articles. Beginning in 1909 the House of Commons and Lords Debates were separated. Prior to 1909 the two houses of Parliament jointly published their debates.
Locating Parliamentary Debates:
- (1066-1803) Parliamentary History of England from the Earliest Period to the Year 1803Print Call #KD68.G7.
Popularly known as Cobbett's after the compiler, William Cobbett.
Paper volumes, Cobbett's parliamentary history of England : From the Norman conquest, in 1066, to the year, 1803, are in the Annex and can be requested via the Catalog or at the nearest service desk. - (1803-1908) Parliamentary DebatesCall #KD68.G72.
Commonly known as Hansard's, these volumes contain the debates of both the House of Lords and Commons. Indexes are found at the end of each session. Volumes are in the Annex and can be requested via the Catalog or at the nearest service desk.
After 1908 the Debates of the House of Commons and Lords are published separately under the title Parliamentary Debates:
- Parliamentary debates (Hansard). Official report byFor the years (1909-1976) Call #KD68.G72. Volumes can be requested via the Catalog or at the nearest service desk. Indexes are found at the end of each session.
- Parliamentary debates (Hansard). Official report byFor the years (1976-1998) Call #KD68.G72, are located on 3rd floor Paterno. The library no longer receives published volumes of the debates in Parliament. For current years see the online editions below.
- House of Lords DebatesFor (Nov. 1995-)
- House of Commons DebatesFor the years (Nov. 1988-)
- Historic Hansard(1803-2005) Find Members, their contributions, debates, petitions and divisions from published Hansard reports dating back over 200 years.
JOURNALS
Journals are the official and permanent record of the proceedings of Parliament. They include motions passed, amended, withdrawn, committee memberships, and lists of papers laid before each House. A journal usually covers one complete Parliamentary session. The Journals report on the activities of Parliament, they are not a record of what was said. The Journals do not typically include the text of debates or speeches.
House of Commons Journal (1837-)
Contains PDF scans of the published Journals from 1837-1997, and web pages with associated PDFs for journals after 1997.
House of Commons Journals for 1688-1834 can be found in the House of Commons Parliamentary Papers database.
British History Online has many House of Commons Journals for the years prior to 1835
- Journals of the House of Commons by(1547-1900), Call # Microprint.G798j, Annex;
(1950-1996), Call #J301.K3, Annex.
House of Lords
- British History Online This link opens in a new windowJournals of the House of Lords from 1509-1793 & 1832-1834
- House of Lords Home PageFor the years (1996-)