Britain: An official handbook > 1977

Introduction
Britain 1977 is the twenty-eighth official handbook in the
series prepared and revised each year by Reference Division
of the Central Office of Information. The contents are based on
information available up to September 1976. The handbook
is widely known as an established work of reference and is
the mainstay of the reference facilities provided by the British
Information Services in many countries. It is available overseas
in a limited free edition and is on sale by Her Majesty's
Stationery Office throughout the world.
Britain 1977 is primarily concerned to describe the machi¬
nery of government and other institutions, together with the
necessary physical and social background,, and to show the
part played by government in the life of the country. It does
not attempt an analytical approach to current events.
The factual and statistical information it contains is com¬
piled with the co-operation of other government departments
and agencies, and of many unofficial organisations. While
most sections relate to Britain, facts and figures for England,
Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are given separately
when relevant.
Sources of more detailed and more topical information
(including statistics) are mentioned in the text and in the
Bibliography towards the end of the book.
Reference Division
Central Office of Information, London
September 1976