This really is an incredible set of primary source material. Within this vast set of over 25,000 volumes, there is an absolute wealth of information. Subjects range from: slavery, smallpox and railways to the sinking of the Titanic. You will also find maps, illustrations and photographs within the documents. Large series of commissioners reports, annual departmental reports and statistics also run through the collection.
Please email: official.papers@bodleian.ox.ac.uk if assistance is required.
Until 1801 Parliamentary Papers were not formally presented. The bound set consists of two distinct sets of papers. The papers of the House of Commons and the papers of the House of Lords. They are arranged by parliamentary sessional year. The state opening of Parliament, usually in October marks a new set of Parliamentary papers. A general election also starts a new parliamentary session.
Bills At the state opening of Parliament the Government lists the legislation that it hopes to pass in the Queen's/King's speech. A Bill is the form legislation takes before it becomes and Act. A bill has to pass through a set procedure where it is debated in both chambers of the House where amendments are made. The various stages are published as House of Lords Bills (HL Bill) or House of Commons Bills (Bill). Bills start from 1 at the begining of each new Parliamentary session.
House of Commons/Lord Papers These are papers which result from the work of the House and its Committees, or are otherwise necessary for its work. To include select committee papers, minutes of proceedings of public bill committees, estimates and appropriation accounts. The papers start from 1 at the begining of each new Parliamentary session.
Command Papers are Parliamentary Papers presented to the United Kingdom Parliament nominally by command of the Sovereign, but in practice by a Government Minister. The numbering is continuous over several parliamentary sessions ; they are differentiated by a letter prefix: They are bound with the House of Commons papers. The House of Lords does not generate command papers.
[1] to [4222] 1833-1868/69
C.1 to C.9550 1870-1899
Cd.1 to Cd.9239 1900-1918
Cmd.1 to Cmd.9889 1919-1955/56
Cmnd.1 to Cmnd.9927 1956/57-1985/86
Cm.1 1986/87 to date
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A Bill can start in the House of Commons or the House of Lords, above is the progress of a bill which starts in the House of Commons. The picture is reproduced from the UK Parliament Website and there are some very useful guides as to the different stages of a bill linked below (again from the UK Parliament website). For information about how to find bills and debates see presentation below.
The Parliament of the UK has 3 roles. Firstly to debate and pass legislation, secondly to scrutinise the work and role of the government, and thirdly to provide a mechanism for the government to raise taxes. This guide will concentrate on the first role, the passing of legislation. The UK Parliament consists of 2 houses and broadly speaking any decision made in one of the houses must be approved by the other.
The House of Commons is made up of elected members (MPs) and the party that holds a majority of seats usually forms the government. This is where the majority of debate on big political issues takes place and from this the proposal of new laws. The Commons is the only place where the third role of government takes place (although advice can be taken from the Lords on financial matters, it can not oppose them).
The House of Lords is made up mainly of those appointed by the King on advice from the Prime Minister but there are members internally elected and a small number from the Church. (Since 2000, the House of Lords Appointments Commission recommends individuals for appointment as non-party-political life peers and vets nominations for life peers, including those nominated by the UK political parties, to ensure the highest standards of propriety)
The Lords has a major role in the passing of new legislation and as advisors on policy and special topics.