This guide lists both 'physical' (print, microfiche, microfilm, and microcard) and online sources related to United Kingdom Parliamentary Documents.
Parliamentary Debates of the House of Commons, also known as Hansard. The Mirror of Parliament reported proceedings in Parliament for 1828 - 1840 and is fuller than Hansard for the period 1828 - 1833.
| Year: | Description: | Format: | Location (Documents Compact Shelving): |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1802 - current | Parliamentary Debates | Online | Hansard (parliament.uk) |
| 1988 - 2016 | Parliamentary Debates | Online | House of Commons Hansard archives (parliament.uk) |
| 1985/86 - current | Parliamentary Debates | Microfiche | UK1 X1 D27 |
| 1980/81 - 1984/85 | Parliamentary Debates | Paper | UK1 X1 D27 |
| 1909 - 1979/80 | Parliamentary Debates | Paper | UK1 X1 D26 |
| 1892 - 1908 | Parliamentary Debates (Hansard) | Paper | UK1 X1 D25C |
| 1830 - 1891 | Hansard's Parliamentary Debates | Paper | UK1 X1 D25B |
| 1820 - 1830 | Parliamentary Debates | Paper | UK1 X1 D25A |
| 1803/04 - 1819/20 | Cobbett's Parliamentary Debates | Paper | UK1 X1 D25 |
| 1066 - 1803 | Hansard's Parliamentary History of England | Paper | UK1 X1 D24 |
| 1828 - 1840 | Mirror of Parliament - Barrow | Paper | UK1 X1 B15 |
A detailed "diary" of House proceedings - written description of each day's events, including all votes, summaries of discussion, written answers and papers tabled before the House (Parliamentary Papers) - Indexed.
| Year: | Description: | Format: | Location: |
|---|---|---|---|
| House of Commons: | |||
| 1547 - current | House of Commons | Paper | UK1 X2 J57 (Folio) |
| House of Lords: | |||
| 1509 - 1837 (some gaps) 1922 - 1985/86 |
Journals of the House of Lords | Paper | UK1 Y2 J57 (Folio, Compact) |
The British Parliamentary papers, also known as Sessional papers, provide Parliament with information for its consideration or arise out of Parliament's deliberations. They are comparable to Canadian Legislative and Parliamentary documents and U.S. Congressional reports and documents. The Papers include: bills, reports, minutes, and evidence taken by committees, and estimates and appropriations. Papers are produced for each session of Parliament for the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
| Year: | Description: | Format: | Location: |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indexes: | |||
| 1922 - current | Great Britain Government Publications Catalogue | Paper | UK1 QP G56 (Reference) |
| 1900 - 1949 | General Index to Parliamentary Papers | Paper | UK1 XS P14 (Reference) |
| 1801 - 1900 | Subject Catalogue of House of Commons Parliamentary Papers (Cockton) | Paper | UK1 XS 88S71 (Reference) |
| 1689 - 1899 | Irish University Press (IUP) Index | Paper | UK1 YS35 (Reference) |
| Papers: | |||
| 1688 - current | House of Commons Parliamentary Papers (Subscription version) | Online | ProQuest U.K. Parlimentary Papers |
| 1731 - current | Parliamentary Papers | Microfiche, Microcard, Paper | UK1 XS P16 (Compact) |
| 1954/55 - current | Parliamentary Papers of the House of Lords (Sessional Papers) | Paper, Microfiche | UK1 YS P16 (Compact) |
| 1547 - 1625 | State Papers - Domestic (Queen's holdings) | Microfilm | UK1 PR75 S71 (Compact) |
Queen's has two main reprint series: Scholarly Resources (18th Century) and the Irish University Press (IUP) set (19th Century). Users are advised to consult these sources where possible, before undertaking research using Readex Microcards.
| Year: | Description: | Format: | Location: |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scholarly Resources: | |||
| 1715 - 1782 | House of Commons Sessional Papers of the 18th Century | 145 vols | UK1 YS P21 (Compact) |
| Index volumes | 2 vols | UK1 YS P20 (Reference) | |
| Irish University Press: | |||
| 1800 - 1900 | Colonies - Canada | 33 vols | UK1 YS4 (Compact) |
| Colonies - Canadian Boundary | 8 vols | UK1 YS4 (Compact) | |
| Crime & Punishment - Police/Prisons | 16 vols | UK1 YS5 (Compact) | |
| Crime & Punishment - Civil Disorder | 16 vols | UK1 YS5 (Compact) | |
| Emigration & Punishment | 28 vols | UK1 YS7 (Compact) | |
| Famine - Ireland | 8 vols | UK1 YS8 (Compact) | |
| Population (1801 - 1891 Censuses) | 25 vols | UK1 YS24 (Compact) | |
| Posts & Telegraphs | 8 vols | UK1 YS25 (Compact) | |
| Others: | |||
| 1846 - 1886 | Papers Relating to Her Majesty's Colonial Possessions | Paper | UK1 YS100 P16 (Compact) |
| 1856 - 1896, 1905 | Statistical Tables Relating to the Colonial & Other Possessions of the United Kingdom | Paper | UK1 YS100 S71 (Compact) |
| Year: | Part: | Description: |
|---|---|---|
| Series One: | ||
| 1547 - 53 | I | Edward VI |
| 1553 - 1558 | I | Mary I |
| 1558 - 1568 | II | Elizabeth I |
| 1569 - 1575 | III | Elizabeth I |
| 1576 - 1585 | IV | Elizabeth I |
| 1586 - 1592 | V | Elizabeth I |
| 1593 - 1603 | VI | Elizabeth I |
| 1603 - 1608 | VII | James I |
| 1608 - 1617 | VIII | James I |
| 1618 - 1623 | IX | James I |
| 1624 - 1625 | X | James I |
| 1547 - 1625 | XI | Edward VI - James I: Addenda |
| Series Two: | ||
| 1625 - 1702 | Jan 1638 - Dec 1642 | Various |
| Year: | Description: | Format: | Location (Documents Compact Shelving): |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1386 - 1542 | Proceedings & Ordinances of the Privy Council of England - vols. 6 & 7 only | Paper | UK1 YX21 P66 |
| 1613 - 1783 | Acts of the Privy Council - Colonial Series - 6 vols. | Paper | UK1 YX21 P67 |
| 1225 - 1713 | Statutes of the Realm - vols. 1 - 11 | Microcard, Microfiche | UK1 YX21 S70 HeinOnline |
| 1213 - 1830 | Statutes at Large | Paper | UK1 YX21 S71 |
| 1830 - current | Public General Acts & Measures | Paper | UK1 YX21 S73 |
| 1988 - | Acts | Online | legislation.uk.gov |
| 1987 - | Statutory Instruments | Online | legislation.uk.gov |
| 1547 - 1631 | Acts of the Privy Council | Paper | UK1 YX22 A16 |
| 1235 - 1982 | Chronological Table of the Statutes | Paper | UK1 YX41 R29 |
| 1235 - 1980 | Index to the Statutes in Force | Paper | UK1 YX41 R30 |
| to 1948 | Statutory Rules & Orders & Statutory Instruments Revised to Dec. 31 1948 | Paper | UK1 YX51 48S76 |
Provided newspaper coverage of parliamentary activity. Indexed by Palmers Index to the Times.
Substantial reports on many topics, including: Poor Laws, Public Schools, Coal Mining, Motor Cars, and many others (see list of Royal Commissions).
These are confidential letters from the Prime Ministers to Queen Victoria, and then King Edward. They constitute the only continuous contemporary record of cabinet business and the only official record of cabinet meetings. Originals are stored in the Royal Archives at Windsor Castle.
| Year: | Description: | Format: | Location: |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1785 - current | Times of London - Newspaper coverage of Parliamentary activity. | Microfilm | AN4 .L6 T56 (Microfilm) |
| 1790 - 1905 | Palmer's Index to the Times | Microfiche | Microfiche 274 |
| 1832 - | Royal Commissions - selected topics | Paper | UK1 Z1... (Compact) |
| 1837 - 1867 | Cabinet Reports - Prime Ministers to the Crown Inventory at the beginning of the reel |
Microfilm | UK1 RAW C16 (Microfilm) |
| 1868 - 1916 | Cabinet Reports - Prime Ministers to the Crown | Microfilm | UK1 RAW C17 (Microfilm) |
| 1868 - 1916 | Indexed in List & Index Society's Cabinet Letters at Windsor 1868 - 1916 | Paper, Microfilm | UK6 LI1 V05 (Compact) |
There are a wide range of internet sites providing access to UK documents. Suggested sites are provided below:
Look up an entry of interest using one of the indexes to the Parliamentary Papers.
Sample Entry: 1870 (448) LV.93 mf 76.523
| 1870 | (448) | LV | 93 | mf 76.523 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Session | Paper # * | Volume # | Volume page | Microfiche filing no. - not applicable at Queen's |
*Bills and House of Commons Papers in parentheses -- Command Papers in square brackets.