BRITAIN 1974 is the twenty-fifth official handbook in the series prepared and revised each year by Reference Division of the Central Office of Information with the co-operation of other government departments and of many national organisations. 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 throughout the world.
This 1974 edition, which covers events up to September 1973, gives a factual account of the administration and the national economy of Britain. It describes the activities of many of the national institutions, both official and unofficial, and shows the part played by the Government in the life of the community.
The handbook does not claim to be comprehensive, nor does it attempt to cover Britain's participation in Commonwealth or world affairs. The factual and statistical information it contains is compiled from official and other authoritative sources, and, while most sections of the book relate to Britain as a whole, facts and figures for England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland are also given separately when relevant.
Readers who require more detailed information should consult the Annual Abstract of Statistics and the Monthly Digest of Statistics, issued by the Central Statistical Office, and also other government publications and standard works of reference, some of which are listed in the bibliography towards the end of the handbook.