What is the purpose of Hansard?

Okay, so Hansard is all about keeping a record of what happens in Parliament. Think of it as the official minutes of everything said and done during parliamentary sessions. It's not some top-secret document, but a publicly available record. The name "Hansard" actually comes from Thomas Curson Hansard, a printer who took over the publication of these parliamentary debates in the early 19th century. Before that, records were patchy and often unofficial. The important thing is that Hansard provides transparency and accountability. It allows anyone to see what their elected representatives are saying and how decisions are being made. It's definitely not the Prime Minister's personal progress report or anything to do with the Queen's activities – those are separate matters. Hansard is specifically focused on documenting the proceedings within the Houses of Parliament.