Stephanie Bartz
Reference/Government Publications Librarian
&
Mary Fetzer
Government Resources Librarian
fetzer@rci.rutgers.edu;
May 9, 2007

Research Resources: Subject Research Guides: Government Information Resources: British Government Publications at the Alexander Library - A Guide to the Collection
Other Publications of the British Government

Like United States government documents, not all British documents are published by the official printing office, TSO (The Stationery Office). Privatized in 1996, this office took over the job of HMSO (Her Majesty’s Stationery Office), which was founded in 1786 and is now part of the Office of Public Sector Information. It is still the major publisher of British documents, including Parliamentary documents, publications of governmental departments, etc.

Yearbooks and other standard reference items of the type familiar to those who have used United States publications are also available for Britain. While a good number of these are published by HMSO/TSO, many come directly from other government departments, notably the Office for National Statistics (although even these are typically sold by The Stationery Office).

Catalogs

The Stationery Office Annual Catalogue.
ALEXANDER DOCREF Z2009.G822 [1936+]
Has undergone various name changes, but is still the official catalog of government documents. These are annual cumulations of the Monthly Catalogue listed below.

The Stationery Office Monthly Catalogue.
ALEXANDER DOCREF Z2009.G823a [Current year only]
Like the Annual Catalogue, the title has undergone various name changes, but is still the official catalog of government documents. Monthly issues are replaced by annual cumulations.

Annual Catalogues of British Official and Parliamentary Publications, 1894-1909.
ALEXANDER DOCREF Z2009.G85 1975a
Reprints of the annuals compiled into a single volume.

Annual Catalogues of British Official and Parliamentary Publications, 1910-1919.
ALEXANDER DOCREF Z2009.G85 1975b
Reprints of the annuals compiled into a single volume.

Catalogues and Indexes of British Government Publications, 1920-1970.
ALEXANDER DOCREF Z2009.G85 1974 [4 volumes]
Reprints of the annuals compiled into a multi-volume set.

Cumulative Index to the Annual Catalogues of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office Publications, 1922-1972.
ALEXANDER DOCREF Z2009.G85 1976 [2 volumes]
Subject, author, and title index entries with references to the year and page number where the document is listed in the Annual Catalogue.

Handbooks, Yearbooks, and Almanacs

Annual Abstract of Statistics.
ALEXANDER DOC HA1122.A33 [1938+; Latest edition DOCREF]
A general compendium of statistics on population, social conditions, law enforcement, education, employment, armed forces, energy, industry, transportation, and trade. Beginning with the 2002 edition the Annual Abstract of Statistics is freely available online.

Civil Service Year Book.
ALEXANDER DOC JN106.B8 [1983+; Latest edition DOCREF]
Similar in nature and scope to the United States Government Manual. Parts of the Civil Service Year Book are freely available online.

Commonwealth Yearbook.
ALEXANDER DOC JN248.C5912 [1969+; Latest edition DOCREF]
Profiles of the member nations of the British Commonwealth, with statistical tables and a directory of organizations. Editions prior to 1987 are titled Year Book of the Commonwealth.

Diplomatic Service List.
ALEXANDER DOC JX1783.A22 [1970, 1977+; Latest edition DOCREF]
Brief biographies of British diplomats are included.

Monthly Digest of Statistics.
ALEXANDER DOC HC251.A32 [1973+; Current issues DOCPER]
Covers the economy, society, population, manufacturing, etc. Beginning with the July 2001 issue Monthly Digest of Statistics is freely available online.

Regional Trends.
ALEXANDER DOC HA1123.C44a [1987-2001]
Demographic, social, industrial, and economic statistics for regions of the United Kingdom. Beginning with the 2001 edition Regional Trends is freely available online.

Social Trends.
ALEXANDER DOC HA1134.S6 [1975+; Latest edition DOCREF]
Tables, graphs and charts dealing with culture and social conditions. Beginning with the 2000 edition Social Trends is freely available online.

UK: the Official Yearbook of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
ALEXANDER DOC DA630.A17 [1950+; Latest edition DOCREF]
Offers a well-done overview of government, economy, environmental issues, and society and culture. Editions prior to 2002 are titled Britain. Beginning with the 2000 edition the Yearbook is freely available online.

United Kingdom Balance of Payments.
ALEXANDER DOC HG3883.G7A5 [1980-2003]
Known as the "Pink Book", this title provides detailed annual estimates of the balance of payments, including estimates for the current account (trade in goods and services, income and current transfers), the capital account, the financial account and the International Investment Position. Beginning with the 2001 edition the "Pink Book" is freely available online.

Other Publications

British and Foreign State Papers, 1812-1968.
ALEXANDER DOC JX103.A3 [170 volumes]
Includes indexes.

Cobbett’s Complete Collection of State Trials and Proceedings for High Treason and Other Crimes and Misdemeanors from…1163 to …1820. Howell, Thomas Bayley.
ALEXANDER STACKS K.H859Co [Vols. 1-13, 15-21, 23, 26, 29]; ANNEX STACKS K.H859Co [Vols. 14, 25, 27, 30]

Index of British Treaties, 1101-1968.
ALEXANDER DOC JX636 1970 .P37 [3 volumes]
Many of these treaties, from the nineteenth century on, are among the sessional papers of the House of Commons. This guide gives exact references to Parliament.

Statutes of the Realm.
ALEXANDER DOC FOREIGN G78 R31/1.3
11 volumes covering 1225-1713.

**Note** Alexander Library has holdings of many other publications of the British government, ranging from print publications to large microforms collections of documents from the Cabinet Office, Colonial Office, Foreign Office, Public Record Office, Office of the Prime Minister, and the Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts.

To locate materials at Alexander Library be sure to check the documents card catalog under “Great Britain” and then under the department name and title of the item. Also check IRIS (increasingly, British government publications are being added to the catalog), and the Microforms in Alexander Library database.