Debates

British Parliamentary debates are of interest to those studying public issues in Great Britain, particularly social and political history, law, etc.. Debates are often concerned with bills which are draft versions of a proposed act of Parliament. Debates also contain parliamentary questions and debates on issues of national importance.

Parliamentary debates are also known as Hansard. Hansard is the official report of the proceedings of the British Parliament and record what is said in the House. The name Hansard was officially adopted in 1943 after Luke Hansard (1752-1828) who was the printer of the House of Commons Journal from 1774.

House of Commons General Committees, whose chief function is to consider proposed bills, have their own Hansards. A Public Bill Committee is named after the Bill it considers, e.g. a committee considering a Bill titled the Climate Bill would be called the Climate Bill Committee. The House of Lords do not have these committees.

Speaker's Chair presented by House of Commons, 1926 [picture] / W.J. Mildenhall, nla.pic-an11030057-101

This chair was used as the Speaker’s Chair between 1927 and 1988 and is still located in the House of Representatives Chamber at the Museum of Australian Democracy, Old Parliament House.

The chair represents the ties between England and Australia and reflects a history of continuity through the inherited Westminster system of Parliament. Read more at the MOADOPH website.