House of Commons Parliamentary Papers (HCPP)

This comprehensive archive holds the sessional papers for almost 300 years of parliament, as well as documents dating even further back – from the mid to the late 17th century, detailing parliamentary activities of the time.

The type of documentation available - including bills, house papers, command papers, reports and accounts - is a lesson itself in governmental administration. The resources provide primary accounts of how legislation old and new has been formed, debated and challenged and the text is fully searchable and indexed.

How can this collection be used in teaching, studying and research?

The history of a particular piece of legislation as well as governmental reactions to war, emergencies and social upheaval can all be studied and illuminated using the resources available in this archive. The evidence gathered by parliamentary committees makes for particularly interesting study, with some of the leading thinkers and public figures from history making an appearance and recording their testimony via committee reports.