United Kingdom Parliamentary Publications
The Library provides access to a wide range of UK Parliamentary Publications. Some are available in print, but an increasing number can be accessed electronically.
This page lists, chronologically within each Parliamentary Publication category, what material is available. Most electronic material is freely accessible on the internet, and can be linked to from this page, but a few databases can only be accessed by students and staff of the University. Where material is available in print, the Library classmark and location are given.
If you require help using this page, or have an enquiry regarding Official Publications, please contact the Academic Liaison team.
United Kingdom Parliamentary Publications are arranged in the following categories:
Additional sections cover
- UK Statutory Instruments
- Northern Ireland Devolved Parliament & Assembly
- Welsh Assembly
- Republic of Ireland (Oireachtas)
Acts of Parliament
Acts of Parliament, or Acts of the Scottish Parliament, also called Statutes, originate in the Westminster or Holyrood Parliaments as Bills. Once a Bill has passed through the various Parliamentary stages it may receive Royal Assent and become an Act. Some UK Acts still apply to Scotland, while all Acts of the Scottish Parliament apply to Scotland only.
UK Public General Acts
1235 - 1713
In Statutes of the Realm in MEMSO (vols 1-4) or British History Online (vols 5-7) or in print (vols 1-9) at Ref1 rff DA25.F58 (Apply at Special Collections Annexe).
1642 - 1660
In Acts and Ordinances of the Interregnum in British History Online or MEMSO.
1714 - 1900
Available in print at Gov J300.H5G (Apply at Special Collections Annexe).
1837 - 1987
Some available online at Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI).
1901 - 2002
Available in print at Gov J300.H5G.
1988 onwards
Available online at Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI).
Statutes in Force
Text of Statutes in Force
Available online in the Statute Law Database.
UK Local & Personal Acts
1798 - 1900
Available in print at Gov J300.H5L (Apply at Special Collections Annexe). Not available on the Internet.
1815 - 1885
Private Acts available in print at Gov J300.H5 (Apply at Special Collections Annexe).
1857 - 1990
Some available online at Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI).
1901 - 1996
Available in print at Gov J300.H5L.
1991 onwards
Available online at Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI).
Acts of the Scottish Parliaments
1235 - 1707
Available via the Records of the Scottish Parliament Database and in print at Ref 1 rfJ306.A3P2 (Apply at Special Collections Annexe).
1999 onwards
Available online at the Office of the Queen's Printer for Scotland.
Parliamentary Papers
UK Parliamentary Papers include:
- Command Papers
- House of Commons Papers and Bills
- House of Lords Papers and Bills
Command Papers
These include reports of royal commissions, statements of government policy, discussion documentsand treaties. They are numbered 1-9999 in the following series:
| 1 | 1833 - 1869 |
| C. | 1870 - 1899 |
| Cd. | 1900 - 1918 |
| Cmd. | 1919 - 1956 |
| Cmnd. | 1956 - 1986/7 |
| Cm. | 1986/7 to date |
1833 onwards
Available online (University staff and students only) in House of Commons Parliamentary Papers (HCCP).
1841 - 1918 (Sequences 1, C and Cd)
Available in print, apply at Special Collections Annexe.
1919 - 1981 (Sequences Cmd and Cmnd)
Bought selectively, some available in print at Gov H30.Cdxxx etc.
1922 - 1977 (Sequences Cmd and Cmnd)
Available on microfilm at Gov(m) H30.D1.
1982 - 2001 (Sequences Cmnd and Cm)
Available on microfiche at Gov (m) H30.P2.
2004 onwards (Sequence Cm)
Available online at The Stationery Office (TSO).
House of Commons Papers and Bills (Sessional Papers, Blue Books)
House of Commons Papers include reports of select committees and bodies set up by statute. Each paper in a Parliamentary Session is given a running number, a new sequence of numbers starting with each Session e.g. HC1041, Session 2006-07. House of Commons Bills will often appear as a different document at each of its Commons readings. Every bill is given a running number through each Session e.g. HC Bill 54, Session 2006-07.
1714 - 1800
Available in print in House of Commons Sessional Papers of the eighteenth century, ed. Sheila Lambert at Gov J301.A19.
1731 - 1921
Available in microprint in British Sessional Papers: House of Commons, 1731 - 1921, ed. Edgar L. Erickson at Gov(m) J301.A2 .
1801 - 1922
British Parliamentary Papers on Ireland, available via the EPPI (Enhanced British Parliamentary Papers on Ireland) Project. Access to the bibliographic records and searchable PDFs in this database is now through the University of Southampton OPAC. No login is required. Use 'Advanced Searches' and limit your search by typing 'EPPI' into the words or phrase field plus any other search term.
1801 - 2004
available online (University staff and students only) in House of Commons Parliamentary Papers (HCPP)
1982 - 2001
Available on microfiche at Gov(m) H30.P2.
1997 onwards
Available online. Papers (mostly Select Committee reports) are at The Parliament Website (Committees Page) and Bills are at Bills Before Parliament (from the Parliament Website).
2005 onwards
Available online at The Stationery Office (TSO).
House of Lords Papers and Bills (Sessional Papers, Blue Books)
1805 - 2001
Not available on the internet. No print editions held by the Library.
1985 - 2001
Available on microfiche at Gov(m) H3.P2.
2002 onwards
Available online. Papers at The Parliament Website (Committees page) and Bills at Bills Before Parliament (from the Parliament Website).
Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)
Hansard is the verbatim record of debates in the House of Commons and the House of Lords. It dates from only 1803. Before then, debates were unofficial and collected from a number of private sources. Complete records of debates were not kept until 1909, when it became the Official Report.
House of Commons Debates
1066 - 1803
In Cobbett's Parliamentary History of England (Vols 1-36), in print at Gov JN588.C6 (Apply at Special Collections Annexe). Some volumes available digitally via the Internet Archive.
1559 - 1601
In Sir Simonds d'Ewes' Journals of all the Parliaments or Townshend's Historical Collections in British History Online.
1653 - 1659
In Burton's Parliamentary Diary in British History Online.
1660 - 1739
In Chandler's History and Proceedings in British History Online.
1667 - 1694
In Grey's Debates in British History Online.
1803 - 2004
Available online at The Parliament Website (Hansard) or Historic Hansard Prototype (a test site).
1804 - 1840
Available in print at Gov JN588.C6 (Apply at Special Collections Annexe)
1841 onwards
Available in print at Gov JN588.C6 (held in Store).
1985 - 2002
Available on microfiche at Gov(m) JN588.C6.
1988 onwards
Available online at The Parliament Website (Hansard) and The Parliament Website (General Committee Debates).
House of Lords Debates
1066 - 1803
In Cobbett's Parliamentary History of England in print at Gov JN588.C6 (Apply at Special Collections Annexe). Some volumes available digitally via the Internet Archive.
1559 - 1601
In Sir Simonds d'Ewes' Journals of all the Parliaments or Townshends' Historical Collections in British History Online.
1803 - 2004
Available online at The Parliament Website (Hansard Archive).
1841 - 1986
Available in print at Gov JN588.C6 (held in Store).
1995 onwards
Available online at The Parliament Website (Hansard).
Proceedings and Journals
The Journals are the formal record of proceedings in both Houses of Parliament.
1272 - 1504
Available in print in The Parliament Rolls of Medieval England, ed. Chris Given-Wilson at fJN515.G5 or on CD-ROM at JN515.G5 Cd-Rom.
1509 - 1717
In House of Lords Journals in British History Online.
1547 - 1699
In House of Commons Journals in British History Online.
1547 - 1900
Journal of the House of Commons in print at fGov JN612.C6 (Apply at Special Collections Annexe).
1600 - 1900
Journal of the House of Lords in print at fGov JN612.J6 (Apply at Special Collections Annexe).
1997 onwards
Available online at The Parliament Website (House of Commons Journal).
1998 onwards
Available online at The Parliament Website (Minutes and Order Papers Archive) (House of Lords Minutes).
Additional sections
UK Statutory Instruments
Statutory Instruments (known as Statutory Rules & Orders before 1948) are a form of secondary or delegated legislation.
1987 onwards
Available online at the Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI).
Northern Ireland Devolved Parliament & Assembly
1921 - 1972
Debates in The Stormont Papers.
1999 onwards
Debates and Papers online at the Northern Ireland Assembly Website.
Welsh Assembly
1999 onwards
Debates and Papers online at the Welsh Assembly Website.
Republic of Ireland (Oireachtas)
1922 - 2003
Acts of the Oireachtas online at http://acts.oireachtas.ie/.
1919 - 2006
Parliamentary Debates of the Dail and Seanad online at Historical Parliamentary Debates.
Updated 18 May, 2012
