British Government Publications can appear daunting and confusing, especially if you are using them for the first time. The actual 'structure' of Government Publications is quite logical. Obtaining a basic understanding of the structure and arrangement of British Government Publications can make a substantial difference in your research, enabling you to effectively locate and use this type of material.
There are two distinct categories of British Government Publications:
- Parliamentary Papers - papers which are needed by Parliament or which result directly from the proceedings of Parliament.
- Non-Parliamentary Papers - documents which are produced by individual Government departments.