From the introduction:
"The list of Hymenoptera in Kloet & Hincks' original edition of this work (1945) was the first supposedly complete one published since 1837. The present checklist incorporates the results of a great deal of further research. However, in only a small proportion of this research has particular attention been paid to the British fauna. Much basic taxonomy still remains to be done, especially in the Parasitica, both in terms of the British fauna and on a wider scale. We hope that this new list will serve to summarize our current knowledge, draw attention to some of the areas where work is needed, and help to stimulate interest in the British Hymenoptera.
A synopsis of the classification of the order is given in the list of contents. We hope that this will be useful, especially to non-hymenopterists. Sixty-six families occur in Britain. The new list includes 6641 species compared with 6228 in the first edition. The total will be considerably increased when the Parasitica are better known and many names now in the list will have to be changed as the taxonomy and nomenclature is properly revised."