Directory · 12 entries

Rules for correcting the official record

This directory compares the rules for correcting official records of what was said. In most bodies a speaker can fix how words were reported but not change their meaning. The Scottish Parliament, for example, sets a 20 working day limit for requests ², and the US House allows only technical, grammatical and typographical corrections to spoken remarks ⁵. Dates show when each rule text was published, where the source gives one.

Last checked 6 November 2026

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UK House of Commons, Hansard reporting errors
Jurisdiction
United Kingdom
Who may correct
Hansard editors, as silent or editorial corrections ¹
What may be changed
Minor errors only. No change that alters meaning ¹
Time limit
No fixed number of days stated ¹
Source
Clerk of the House of Commons, September 2022 ¹
UK House of Commons, ministerial corrections
Jurisdiction
United Kingdom
Who may correct
Ministers, through their department ¹
What may be changed
Factual mistakes. Corrections should not provide new information ¹
Time limit
Earliest opportunity. Online at any point in a Session ¹
Source
Clerk of the House of Commons, September 2022 ¹
UK House of Commons, other Members
Jurisdiction
United Kingdom
Who may correct
Members, through a point of order or a silent correction ¹
What may be changed
Statement made on the record, with no electronic link to the original ¹
Source
Clerk of the House of Commons, September 2022 ¹
Scottish Parliament Official Report
Jurisdiction
United Kingdom
Who may correct
Only the person whose words were reported ²
What may be changed
Report errors. No change of meaning or new information ²
Time limit
Request within 20 working days, final after 35 working days ²
Source
Scottish Parliament ²
Australian Parliament Hansard
Jurisdiction
Australia
Who may correct
Members, on the proof ³
What may be changed
Mainly names, historical facts and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander words. No rewriting ³
Time limit
Official version around 2 weeks after each sitting week ³
Source
Parliamentary Education Office ³
British Columbia Hansard
Jurisdiction
Canada
Who may correct
Members ⁴
What may be changed
Misheard words and transcription errors. No polishing or rewriting ⁴
Time limit
Morning sittings by 4 p.m. next day, afternoon sittings by noon on the second day ⁴
Source
Legislative Assembly of British Columbia ⁴
US House, Congressional Record
Jurisdiction
United States
Who may correct
The Member, who must authorise changes ⁵
What may be changed
Technical, grammatical and typographical corrections. Substantive revisions in distinctive type ⁵
Time limit
Extensions typically within five legislative days. None after the permanent edition ⁵
Source
House Practice, Chapter 15 ⁵
US House, printing errors
Jurisdiction
United States
Who may correct
The House, not the Speaker ⁵
What may be changed
Errors in the transcript or printing, not a Member's factual error ⁵
Time limit
Before the permanent edition is published ⁵
Source
House Practice, Chapter 15 ⁵
European Parliament verbatim report (2007 rule text)
Jurisdiction
European Union
Who may correct
Speakers ⁶
What may be changed
Corrections to typescripts of their speeches ⁶
Time limit
Within one week, under the 2007 text ⁶
Source
Legislative Observatory, 24 October 2007 ⁶
UN Security Council verbatim record
Jurisdiction
United Nations
Who may correct
A member of the delegation concerned ⁷
What may be changed
Corrections in the original language only, on a copy of the record ⁷
Time limit
None stated on the 2016 record read ⁷
Source
S/PV.7633, 26 February 2016 ⁷
UN General Assembly committee summary record
Jurisdiction
United Nations
Who may correct
A member of the delegation concerned ⁸
What may be changed
Corrections to the record, issued in a corrigendum after the session ⁸
Time limit
Within one week, per a 1998 record ⁸
Source
A/C.5/53/SR.12, 1998 ⁸
Lok Sabha
Jurisdiction
India
Who may correct
The Speaker, by expunction under Rule 380 ⁹
What may be changed
Words judged defamatory, indecent, unparliamentary or undignified ⁹
Time limit
No fixed limit stated. Requests to restore expunged words mostly refused ⁹
Source
ThePrint, as reported, 10 August 2023 ⁹

Notes

The UK House of Commons publishes agreed ministerial corrections under a Ministerial Corrections heading ¹, and its Hansard includes corrections from Ministers and Members ¹⁰.
The European Parliament row reflects a 2007 rule summary. The current rule text was not checked ⁶.

Rules and charges change. Check the official source linked on this page before you pay or travel. Spotted an error? Email hello@saidincontext.com.

UK House of Commons, Hansard reporting errors

UK House of Commons, ministerial corrections

UK House of Commons, other Members

Scottish Parliament Official Report

Australian Parliament Hansard

British Columbia Hansard

US House, Congressional Record

US House, printing errors

European Parliament verbatim report (2007 rule text)

UN Security Council verbatim record

UN General Assembly committee summary record

Lok Sabha

Notes

Sources