Hansard is an edited record of what was said in Parliament. It also includes votes, written ministerial statements and written answers to parliamentary questions. The report is published daily covering the preceding day, and is followed by weekly and final versions.
Transcribing and publishing
Members’ words are recorded by Hansard reporters and then edited to remove repetitions and obvious mistakes but without taking away from the meaning. Reports of the latest proceedings are published online and updated during the day. The Commons and Lords have separate reports.
The text of Daily Debates in the Commons and Lords are published online the following morning by 6am and is also available in hard copy. Weekly and bound final versions follow, proofread to eliminate any errors that may have occurred in the original.
Today in the Commons and Lords
When the Commons and Lords are sitting, the reports of the latest proceedings are published about three hours after the live event and updated during the sitting. The following day this becomes the Official Report (Hansard).
Historic Hansard
Commons debates can be read back until November 1988 and Lords debates until 1995-96 on the Parliament website. Hansard debates from both the Commons and Lords from 1803-2005 can be read on the Historic Hansard website.