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British Parliamentary Papers Guide

Guide to British Parliamentary Papers in Fondren Library

Guides  Indexes  Sessional Papers  Parliamentary Debates  Journals  Statutes

British Parliamentary Papers provide important information about the work of Parliament. They include Bills, Debates, Acts of Parliament, and Reports. The Papers do not include publications, which are produced by government agencies for use outside Parliament. British government publications are not received on deposit, as are the U.S. and (some) Texas state publications.

GUIDES

REF
Z
2009
.A1
Ford, Percy. A Guide to Parliamentary Papers. Totowa, N.J.: Rowman and Littlefield, 1972.
For anyone unfamiliar with Parliamentary papers, this guide describes what they are, how to find them, and how to use them.
REF
Z
2009
.O4
Olle, James G.H. An Introduction to British Government Publications. London: Association of Assistant Librarians, 1973.
An elementary introduction to British government publications, including Parliamentary and Non Parliamentary publications.
REF
Z
2009
.R62
Rodgers, Frank. A Guide to British Government Publications. New York: H.W. Wilson, 1980.In depth guide to Parliamentary Papers including publications from British ministries.


INDEXES

J
301
.I5
1997
REF-DESK
Index to House of Commons parliamentary papers [computer file]. Cumulative index for 1801-1996 on CD-Rom.
Internet POLIS (Parliamentary Online Indexing Service)
http://www.polis.parliament.uk/
Provides an index to the proceedings and publications of both Houses of Parliament and includes the full text of Early Day Motions since May 1997. Maintained by House of Commons Library staff.
Online Journal Index Nineteenth Century Masterfile
Online searching of Hansard's Index to Debates, House of Commons and House of Lords (1803-1830) and also Cobbett's Parliamentary History of England 1066-1803.

Official Indexes to the Sessional Papers in ten to fifty-year accumulations have been published for both Houses of Parliament. Usually, the title of the paper, the citation to the volume and the page of the Sessional Paper are listed. An explanation of the citation form is found at the beginning of each index, and is important as the arrangement and meaning of the numbers have changed through the years. (Sessional paper numbers are always those in parentheses.)

J
301
.K62
REF
Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Hansard's Catalogue and Breviate of Parliamentary Papers 1696-1834. Oxford: Blackwell, 1953.
A listing of all reports on public subjects whether inserted only in the Journal or contained in the printed collections. Classified by major (and sometimes minor) subject and arranged chronologically. Each reference provides a year, volume and page number. Many include content notes.
J
301
.A2
REF
Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Catalogue of papers printed by order of the House of Commons, from the year 1731 to 1800. In Custody of the clerk of the journals. London: HMSO, 1953.
Papers are separated by type (Bills, Reports, Accounts, and Papers) and arranged by year. Accounts and papers are arranged alphabetically by subject within a year. Each entry provides reference to the appropriate volume of sessional papers. Individual indexes are included for each publication type.
Z
2019
.C631988
REF
Cockton, Peter. Subject catalogue of the House of Commons Parliamentary Papers, 1801-1900. Cambridge: Chadwyck-Healey, 1988.
Divided into 19 major subject chapters-each chapter further subdivided by subject and then by type of document (bill, report of committee, report of commission, accounts/papers). Papers are arranged by key word within each section. Each entry provided title, session, paper number, volume number, and page (for collections) and microfiche filing number for Chadwyck-Healey's microfiche set.
J
301
.H66
Index
Irish University Press Series of British Parliamentary Papers. Index. Shannon: Irish University Press.

Vol. I Hansard's Catalogue and Breviate of Parliamentary Reports, 1699-1834.
A subject listing of all reports on public subjects, whether inserted only in Journal or contained in the printed collections. Classified by major (and sometimes minor) subject, and arranged chronologically. Each reference provides a year, volume, and page number. Many include content notes.

Vol. II General Index to the Reports of Select Committees, 1801-1852
Vol. III General Index to Accounts & Papers, 1801-1852
Vol. IV General Index to the Bills, Reports, Estimates, Accounts & Papers, 1852-1869
Vol. V General Index to the Bills Printed by Order of the House of Commons, 1801- 1852
Vol. VI General Index to the Bills, Reports, Estimates, and Accounts & Papers Printed by Order of the House of Commons and to Papers Presented by Command, 1870-1879
Vol. VII General Index to the Bills, Reports, Estimates, and Accounts & Papers Printed by Order of the House of Commons and to papers Presented by Command, 1880-1889
Vol. VIII General Index to Bills, Reports, Estimates, and Accounts & Papers Printed by Order of the House of Commons and to Papers Presented by Command, 1890-1899

J
301
.H663
1972
Irish University Press. Checklist of British Parliamentary Papers in the Irish University Press 1000 Volume Series, 1801-1899. Shannon, Ireland: 1972.
Indexes the IUP publications. Part I is chronological; Part II is arranged by subject. Both cross-reference from the original session and Paper number to the IUP volume number.
J
301
.M3
REF
Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Library. General Index to the Bills, Reports, and Papers Printed by the Order of the House of Commons and to the Reports and 1960 Papers Presented by Command, 1900-1948/49. London: HMSO, 1960.
2700 volumes of Papers are indexed, including bills, reports of committees, commissions, accounts, and papers are indexed by broad subject heading. The explanation for the citation is given at the beginning of the index. Reference to the correct, or to additional entries, are also provided. An alphabetical list of the short titles of bills is found in part II.
Z
2009
.D5
REF
Di Roma, Edward. A Numerical Finding List of British command papers Published 1833-1961/62. New York: NY Public Library, 1967.
Arranged by Command Paper number, this volume cross references to the volume and page number of the appropriate sessional paper.

SESSIONAL PAPERS

Sessional papers include accounts, papers, bills, reports, and papers presented by command of the Sovereign. Compilations of papers are listed below. Some individual papers are in the collection, as well—please check with LIBRIS or a Reference Librarian. Sessional papers for the 18th century are available at the University of Houston. (Note: sessional papers are also sometimes known as Parliamentary Papers.) Bills before Parliament are available on the Internet: http://www.parliament.uk/bills/bills.cfm

J
301
.K539
Fiche
Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Parliamentary Papers,1801-1900. London: Chadwyck-Healey, 1980-82.
Includes Command Papers, House of Commons Papers, Reports of Committees, and Bills. Papers are arranged by year and sessional volume.
J
301
.K54
Fiche
Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Parliamentary Papers,1901-1921. London: Chadwyck-Healey, 1983-85.
Includes Command Papers, House of Commons Papers, Reports of Committees, and Bills. Papers are arranged by year and sessional volume.
J
301
.K542
Fiche
Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Parliamentary Papers,1922-1944/45. London: Chadwyck-Healey, 1989-90.
Includes Command Papers, House of Commons Papers, Reports of Committees, and Bills. Papers are arranged by year and sessional volume.
J
301
.H66
Irish University Press. 1000 Volume Series, 1801-1899. Shannon, Ireland: 1968-1972.
Arranged by 32 major subjects, these volumes reprint the major policy papers out of over 80,000 published during the century. Included are reports, correspondence, bills, and accounts. Papers are arranged chronologically within subject volumes-use the Checklist of Parliamentary Papers, described above if paper number is known.
J
301
.K562
1973
Film
Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Reports from the House of Commons, 1715-1801, printed but not inserted in the Journals of the House. 1803-1806. Chadwyck-Healey, 1973.
Select committees were used throughout the 18th century to investigate problems and were the basis of legislation. Included are: impeachment of Ministers, investigation of financial scandals, inquiries into specific industries, reports on the state of the poor, inquiries into Indian rule.
J
301
.K562
1973
Index
General Index to the Reports from Committees of the House of Commons, 1715-1801.

PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES

No official record of the debates began until 1909. From 1628-1738, resolutions were passed in the House prohibiting publication of the debates. However, they were sometimes unofficially published during the 17th-18th centuries. From 1768 on, newspapers systematically reported the debates (see London Times-1785 to date-AN 2.T 5). The Debates are not verbatim-they include motions or actions that do not actually take place on the floor of the Parliament.

House of Commons

J
301
.H61
Great Britain Parliament. The Parliamentary Debates. (Authorized edition). Ser. 1 vol. 1-41, Nov. 1803/March 1804-Nov. 1819/Feb. 1820; Ser. 2 vol. 1-25, Apr/June 1820-June/Aug 1891; Ser. 4 vol. 1-199, Feb/Mar 1892-Dec 1908. London: Wyman.
J
301
.H61
s.5 and s.6
Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. The parliamentary Debates. (Hansard) Official Report. Vol. 1-Ser. 5 Feb/Mar 1909-; Ser. 6 1981- London: HMSO.
Each volume has its own index, listing names of individuals and subject of debates. A section is devoted to written answers to question members of Parliament submit to Cabinet members or other government officials.
DA
430
.G59
WOODSON
Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Debates of the House of Commons from the Year 1667 to the Year 1694. 10 vols. London: printed…at St. John's Gate…in St. John's Square, 1763.
This collection is also known as "Grey's Debates" since it was collected by the Hon. Anchitell Grey, a member of Parliament.
The Parliamentary Debates of the House of Commons from 1988 -- present are available on the Internet through the United Kingdom Parliament website: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmhansrd.htm

House of Lords

J
301
.H61
Great Britain Parliament. The Parliamentary Debates. (Authorized edition). Ser. 1 vol. 1-41, Nov. 1803/March 1804-Nov. 1819/Feb. 1820; Ser. 2 vol. 1-25, Apr/June 1820-June/Aug 1891; Ser. 4 vol. 1-199, Feb/Mar 1892-Dec 1908. London: Wyman.
J
301
.H61
s.5L
Great Britain. Parliament. House of Lords. The Parliamentary Debates (Hansard) Official Report. Vol. 1- Feb/May 1909- London: HMSO.
This series contains the "official" report authorized by the House of Lords.
The Parliamentary Debates of the House of Lords from November 1995 to present are available on the Internet through the United Kingdom Parliament website: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld199900/ldhansrd/pdvn/home.htm

JOURNALS

House of Commons

The Journal is the official record of the proceedings-it is a report of what is done, not what is said. Each volume usually covers one session and has its own index.

J
301
.C6
v.1-50
WOODSON
Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Journal. vol. 1-50, (1547-1794). London: HMSO.
J
301
.C6
v. 50-155
Microprint
Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Journals. vol. 50-155, (1794-1900). Readex Microprint, 1966.
J
301
.C6
Index
v. 1-155
Microprint
Index. (1547-1900).

House of Lords

J
301
.L6
WOODSON
Great Britain. Parliament. House of Lords. Journals. vol. 1-33, (1509-1773). London: HMSO.


STATUTES

Compilations of statutes are listed below.

KD
130
1225
Microcard
Great Britain. Laws, statutes, etc. The Statutes of the Realm [1225-1713]. London: Record Commission, 1824.
Original and authentic manuscripts of British statutes were used for this collection that is regarded as the most complete and accurate edition for the time period. The text includes original language and modern English. Each volume has its own ides, and separate volumes are provided for complete alphabetical (vol. 10) and chronological (vol. 11) indexes.
KD
129
.G75
Fiche
Great Britain. Laws, statutes, etc. Public general acts 1801-1922. Brighton, Eng.: Harvester Press Microform Publications, 1985.
The original and authentic Kings/Queens Printers copies of the statutes were used for this collection. Section I includes 1801-1845; Section II 1846-1922. Statutes are arranged chronologically by monarch and Regnal year. Table and indexes for each Regnal year are reproduced separately on the first fiche of each Regnal year. These provide references to the chapter number for the act.
KD
166
.A5
Great Britain. Laws, statutes, etc. Statutory Instruments. London: H.M. Stationary Office, 1890-Fondren Library Holdings: 1964 - 2000.
Contains the full text of general statutory instruments registered during the year. References are provided to instruments, which are classified as local in nature. Certain non-statutory instruments are included as appendix material. A numerical listing and a broad subject index included.
Full text Public Acts are available on the Internet 1988—present: http://www.hmso.gov.uk/acts.htm

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