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Research is one of the most important parts of Hansard
production. The official record of debates must be an
authoritative account of what was actually said during legislative
proceedings. In order to ensure a high standard of accuracy, Hansard
editors must do their homework.
Council or
Counsel?
Producing a transcript may not sound very
difficult. After all, a transcript is simply a written record of an
oral exchange. The trouble is that spoken words don't always
translate easily into written text. Many words with differing
meanings sound alike, noises in the House can make it difficult to
decipher certain phrases or names, and members may occasionally
misspeak, especially during those late-night sittings or
particularly heated debates. One crucial aspect of Hansard
research is careful listening, double-checking when the words on the
screen just don't look right.
Hitting the Books
In addition to an in-house research centre stocked with atlases, reports,
catalogues, and the like, Hansard editors use a
variety of web-based sources to conduct their research. Below
are some links to just a few of those sources. You may find
them helpful in conducting your own research.
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