What is Hansard?

Hansard is the official verbatim report of debates and proceedings in the House of Commons and sometimes in the House of Lords. It captures everything that is said in these debates, providing an essential record for both current events and historical references. This makes it a crucial resource for journalists, researchers, and anyone interested in the workings of the UK Parliament.

The detailed nature of Hansard means it includes not only the spoken words of members of Parliament but also responses, questions, and discussions surrounding legislation, making it a comprehensive resource for understanding parliamentary discourse. Its purpose is to promote transparency and accountability in government by ensuring that proceedings are accurately documented.

The other options do not encompass the full scope of what Hansard represents, as they focus on narrower aspects of parliamentary work or processes that are not specifically captured in Hansard’s records.