Letters to persons leaving the Government (Howell and Pym)

Dear David HowellDavid,

Following our talk last evening, I am writing to thank you so much for all that you have done as a Member of the Cabinet during these past four years; first as Secretary of State for Energy and then as Secretary of State for Transport.

You were successful in mitigating, for the United Kingdom, the adverse effects of the oil price explosion in 1979 and laid the foundations for our nuclear power programme.

You pioneered long term plans for denationalisation at the Department of Transport and embarked on the vitally important road building programme.

In both Departments, you have contributed greatly to the success of the Government.

I know that your own special qualities and talents will be used to sustain the Conservative cause and I send you my best wishes for the future.

Yours ever

Margaret. [end p1]

Dear Margaret,

Thank you for your letter referring to our talk in which you told me that you could not offer me a place in the new Government.

I have very much appreciated both the opportunity to serve with you throughout the Cabinet of 1979–83 and, over the years, the chance to help in laying all the foundations upon which we must now build carefully and patiently for the future.

Yours ever

David

Dear Francis PymFrancis,

Following our talk last evening, I am writing to thank you most warmly for all that you have done as a senior member of the Cabinet during the past four years; first as Secretary of State for Defence, then as Leader of the House of Commons, and finally as Foreign Secretary during the past difficult fourteen months.

To each of these responsibilities you have brought your own special qualities of application and diligence and have held three of the most important appointments in Government. You made a very significant contribution to the success of the last Administration.

I hope that these same qualities may be available to the country in some other sphere of service in the future.

I send my best wishes to you and to Valerie PymValerie.

Yours ever

Margaret [end p3]

Dear Margaret,

Thank you for your letter. As you know, I have much appreciated serving in your Government in the various posts I have held.

Valerie and I send you and Denis our best wishes for the future.

Yours ever,

Francis.