This index lists every year in which the words injurious or injuriously appear in the recorded parliamentary debates held in Hansard. Each year links to a page giving the full context of each use.
The purpose of this survey is to document how these words were actually used in parliamentary language across more than two centuries. As the evidence shows, the consistent meaning is economic or agricultural damage - not toxicity or danger to health. This is directly relevant to the correct interpretation of legislation such as the Weeds Act 1959, which refers to injurious weeds in precisely this traditional sense.
See also: why “harmful weeds” misrepresents the law.
| Year | Number of uses |
|---|---|
| 0011 | 4 |
| 0124 | 7 |
| 1803 | 45 |
| 1805 | 59 |
| 1806 | 117 |
| 1807 | 39 |
| 1808 | 122 |
| 1809 | 112 |
| 1810 | 32 |
| 1811 | 59 |
| 1812 | 130 |
| 1813 | 40 |
| 1815 | 76 |
| 1817 | 90 |
| 1818 | 43 |
| 1819 | 207 |
| 1909 | 46 |
| 1910 | 4 |
| 1911 | 9 |
| 1912 | 30 |
| 1913 | 5 |
| 1914 | 3 |
| 1915 | 11 |
| 1916 | 21 |
| 1917 | 37 |
| 1918 | 63 |
| 1919 | 130 |
| 1920 | 104 |
| 1921 | 24 |
| 1922 | 26 |
| 1923 | 7 |
| 1924 | 8 |
| 1925 | 17 |
| 1926 | 11 |
| 1927 | 22 |
| 1928 | 16 |
| 1929 | 10 |
| 1930 | 76 |
| 1931 | 10 |
| 1932 | 14 |
| 1933 | 3 |
| 1934 | 21 |
| 1935 | 17 |
| 1936 | 4 |
| 1937 | 5 |
| 1938 | 20 |
| 1981 | 13 |
| 1982 | 25 |
| 1983 | 10 |
| 1984 | 5 |
| 1985 | 13 |
| 1986 | 9 |
| unknown | 66 |
| Total | 2097 |
Injurious weeds and the law | Why “harmful weeds” misrepresents the law