British Parliamentary publications can be extremely useful for current and historical research on a variety of topics. There are three basic categories of Parliamentary publications, all divided between Commons and Lords: Reports of debates, also known as Hansard, which contain the answers to Prime Minister's questions and the text of statements made in debate; Journals, which are the official record of Parliamentary business; and Parliamentary Papers, which include bills and papers. House of Commons papers include reports and minutes of committees, annual reports of various government departments, financial papers, and reports of investigations.

House of Lords papers are similar, but there are far fewer published. There are two major types of papers: Sessional and Command Papers. Sessional Papers are numbered sequentially within a session; with each new session, the numbering begins anew. Sessional papers can be identified by a number in parentheses. Command Papers, so called because they are published "by command of Her Majesty," tend to be more important versions of the same types of papers. They can be identified by a number in square brackets, and are issued in sequential order across sessions based on the following numbering scheme:

All are located in the Government Publications Department unless otherwise noted.

Guides

Butcher, David. "Parliamentary Publications," chapter in Official Publications in Britain. London, Library Association, 1991, 19–44. 

Z2009.B89 1991 Main Reference

 

Ford, P. and G. Ford. A Guide to Parliamentary Papers: What They Are, How to Find Them, How to Use Them. 3d ed. Totowa, N.J., Rowman and Littlefield, 1972. 

Z2009.A1F6 1972 Goverment Publications

 

Jones, David Lewis. Debates and Proceedings of the British Parliament: a Guide to Printed Sources. London : H.M.S.O., 1986. 

Z2016.J65 1986 Main Reference 

  

Rodgers, Frank. A Guide to British Government Publications. H.W. Wilson Co., New York, 1980. 

Z2009.R58 Main Reference

Debates

1066–1803 | 1803–1908 | 1909 –

1066–1803

 

Cobbett's Parliamentary History of England. From the Norman Conquests, in 1066, to the Year 1803. London. 36 vols. 

J301.C6 
 

1803–1908

 

Hansard's Parliamentary Debates. 

J301.H22 

v.1(1803)–v.41(1820); 

n.s.:v.1(1820)–n.s.:v.25(1830); 

ser.3:v.1(1830)–ser.3:v.356(1891); 

ser.4:v.1(1892)–ser.4:v.199(1908) 

Beginning with Series 3, indexes are found at the end of each session.

 

1909–

 

The Parliamentary Debates (Official report). Lords. 

J301.J22
    Ser.5:v.1(1909)–v.467(1984/1985) 

microfiche 1197 
     v.468 (1985/1986)–

 Indexes are found at the end of each session.

WWW

Debates from June 10, 1996 to the present are available on the Web at http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/ld199697/ldhansrd/pdvn/home.htm

 

The Parliamentary Debates (Official Report). Commons. 

J301.K22  
   ser. 5:v.1(1909)–v.1000(1980/81) 
   ser. 6a:v.1(1980/1981)–v.87(1985/1986) 

microfiche 1198
   ser. 6a:v.86(1985/1986)–

Indexes are found at the end of each session.

 WWW

Debates from October, 1996 to the present are available on the Web at http://www.parliament.the-stationery- office.co.uk/pa/cm/cmhansrd.htm.

Parliamentary Papers

1715–1800 | 1801–1900 | 1900– | Indexes

1715–1800

 

House of Commons Sessional Papers of the Eighteenth Century. Ed. Sheila Lambert. Wilmington, Del., Scholarly Resources, 1975. 

fJ301.K6 18th Cent.

v.1–v.145

Indexes: v.1 (1715–1760), v.2 (1761–1800)

 

A General index to the sessional papers printed by order of the House of Lords or presented by special command, 1714 to1805. Dobbs Ferry, NY, Oceana Publications, 1986.

J301.J6 1986 Main

 

1801–1900

 

House of Commons Parliamentary Papers, 1801–1900. Cambridge, England; Alexandria, Virginia, Chadwyck-Healey, 1988. 

Microfiche 1149

Index: Z2019.C63 1988 (v.1–5) Main Reference. Also indexed in C19

Guide: Z2019.C62 1991 Main Reference

 

Jones, H.V. Catalogue of Parliamentary Papers, 1801–1900 (with a few of earlier date). London, P.S. King & Son.

fZ2009.C37 1994 Main Reference

 

General Alphabetical Index to the Bills, Reports, Estimates, Accounts, and Papers Printed by Order of the House of Commons and to the Papers Presented by Command. London, H.M.S.O.

1801–1852 fJ301.M5 G74 1801/52 Main Reference

1852–1899 fJ301.M5 G73 1852/99 Main Reference

 

Irish University Press Series of British Parliamentary Papers. Shannon, Irish University Press, 1968–71. 

1000 volumes of selected papers divided into subject-based sets.

 

Checklist of British Parliamentary Papers in the Irish University Press 1000-Volume Series, 1801–1899. Shannon, Ireland, 1972. 

fZ2009.G68 Suppl. Main Reference

A listing of all documents contained in the series. University of Iowa call numbers for the set are listed here.

 

Catalogue of British Parliamentary Papers in the Irish University Press 1000-Volume Series and Area Studies Series, 1801–1900. Dublin, Irish University Press, 1977. 

fZ2019.I723 Main Reference 

Detailed descriptions of each volume's contents.

 

A General Index to the Sessional Papers Printed by Order of the House of Lords or Presented by Command. London, Hansard.

1801–1852 fJ301.J62 v.1 Main Reference

1801–1859 fJ301.J62 v.2 Main Reference

1859–1870 fJ301.J62 v.3 Main Reference

1871–1884/85 fJ301.J62 v.4 Main Reference

 

1900–

 

Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Sessional Papers. 

J301.K6

1900, v.6–106; 1901, v.5–92; 1902, v.5–131; 1903, v.5–88; 1904, v.5–113; 1905, v.6–104; 1906–1959/1960; 1960/1961, v.1–10, 13–35; 1961/1962–1979/1980.

Indexes follow each year. The indexes for 1980/1981–1983/1984 are shelved at the end of this section.

microfiche 375

1980/1981–

WWW

Various papers, including bills and select committee publications can be found on the House of Commons home page (http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm/cmhome.htm). Roughly 1997–

 

Indexes

J301.K6 (1900–1979/1980). Indexes are shelved at the end of each year

J301.K6 Index (1980/1981–1983/1984)

microfiche 798 (1985/1986– ). Indexes are stored in a binder above the microfiche cabinets.

Index to Current House of Commons Parliamentary Papers.
CD-ROM 493–A4 8: (1991/1992– )
Web

General Index to the Bills, Reports and Papers Printed by Order of the House of Commons and to the Reports and Papers Printed by Command, 1900 to 1948–49. London, H.M.S.O., 1960.

J301.M3 Main Reference

 

Parsons, K.A.C. A Checklist of the British Parliamentary Papers (Bound Set) 1801–1950. Cambridge, University Library, 1958.

J301.K655 Main Reference

 

House of Lords Papers

WWW

Various papers, including bills and select committee publications can be found on the House of Lords home page (http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/ld/ldhome.htm). Roughly 1997–

 

Indexes 

Breviates (annotated bibliographies—various titles) 

1696–1834 fJ301.K62 1953 Main Reference

1833–1899 J301.M3 1953 Main Reference

1900–1916 JN549.F59 Main Reference

1917–1939 JN549.F6 Main Reference

1940–1954 JN549.F62 Main Reference

1955–1964 J301.M3 1970 Main Reference

British Government Publications, an Index to Chairmen of Committees and Commissions of Inquiry. London: Library Association, Reference, Special and Information Section, 1974.
          vol. 1, 1800–1899 fZ2009.R53 1974 Main Reference

British Government Publications, an Index to Chairmen and Authors. London: Library Association, Reference, Special and Information Section, 1974.

vols. 2–4, 1900–1982 fZ2009.R53 1974 Main Reference

A Numerical Finding List of British Command Papers Published.

1833–1961/62 Z2009.D5 Main Reference

1962/63–1976/77 Z2009.D5 1982 Main Reference

 

Rodgers, Frank, Serial Publications in the British Parliamentary Papers, 1900–1968: A Bibliography. Chicago, American Library Association, 1971.

Z2009.R63 Main Reference

Journals

Journals of the House of Commons. 

 

fJ301.K3

v.1 (1547/1628)–v.90 (1835)

v.223 (1967/1968)–v.240(1983/1984) 

microfiche 1199

v.240 (1983/1984)–

 

Great Britain. Parliament. Rotuli Parliamentorum; ut et Petitiones, et Placita in Parliamento. (Rolls of Parliament)

fJ301.H12 v.1–6 (1767–77)

Index: fJ301.H12 Index

 

Journals of the House of Lords. 

fJ301.J3
v.1 (1509–77)–v.42 (1798/1800), v.202 (1969/1970)–v.220 (1986/1987)

INDEXES 1(1509)–52(1819), 166(1934)– 

  

Ford, Grace. A Select List of Reports and Other Papers in Journals of the House of Commons, 1688–1800. Nendeln, Liechenstein, KTO Press, 1976.

J301.M3 1976