MT's official files as Prime Minister, 1979-90

MT's official files as PM can be read on this site as they are released, in full and free to all - the confidential files originally stored at No.10, the core record of her premiership.

The files have been copied at the British National Archives (TNA) at Kew in London and can be downloaded precisely as they appear in the reading room.

We are doing something more to help people make sense of this mass of information. The files are subject-based, logically enough, but that system makes it difficult to reconstruct the flow of paper across the Prime Minister’s desk at any point in time, depriving us of a sense of context, of the political cross-winds, some of them overwhelming.

To combat this effect we are uploading a large selection of the most important documents from these files – thousands in total – to our powerful site database. You can search and sort by date, subject and other parameters, getting as close as anyone can now get to reconstructing the Prime Minister’s daily "Red Boxes", the rich diet of foreign and domestic policy papers submitted to her by the No.10 Private Office.

List and links to the PM’s files

Below are links to the downloadable files in numerical order. The subject terms are those used in the original filing system.

An average file has around 200 pages.

You can read here an account of how filing worked at No.10, and the system for archiving MT’s Prime Ministerial papers, both of which had their quirks.

Chancellor of the Exchequer’s Private Office files, 1979-1989

1979-89: Chancellor’s Private Office files [links to hundreds of digitised files from the Chancellorships of Sir Geoffrey Howe and Nigel Lawson]

Engagement Diaries

An alternative way through the material is to read MT’s engagement diaries, jumping day to day.

The engagement diaries link directly to relevant documents in the site database, so this is a good way to recover the perspective from the Red Box.

Showing items 1751 - 1800 of 5082

Per page:

File name	File title	Begins	Ends	Release date	Any docs withheld?	Classification	Pages
PREM19/1687	Civil Service (Civil servants' outside interests: acceptance of non-executive directorships; possible publication of essay by Michael Quinlan on the ethics of nuclear deterrence)	Begins: 1984 Jan 31	Ends: 1986 Aug 5	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30		Classification: Confidential	Pages: 93
PREM19/1688	Commonwealth (Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting (CHOGM), Nassau, Bahamas, October 1985) (Part 10)	Begins: 1985 Oct 10	Ends: 1986 Aug 4	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 282
PREM19/1689	Defence (Development of torpedoes)	Begins: 1979 Jul 20	Ends: 1986 Dec 23	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 111
PREM19/1690	Defence (Public opinion and public debate on nuclear weapons issues)	Begins: 1982 Oct 18	Ends: 1986 May 12	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30	Any docs withheld? 2	Classification: Secret	Pages: 241
PREM19/1691	Defence (Procurement of weapon systems (HARM/ALARM air launched missiles)) (Part 3)	Begins: 1985 Jul 1	Ends: 1986 May 30	Date of release: 2016 Jul 21		Classification: Secret	Pages: 262
PREM19/1692	Defence (Procurement of Weapon Systems (HARM/ALARM air launched missiles): airborne early warning aircraft (British Aerospace Nimrod and Boeing E3A)) (Part 4)	Begins: 1986 Jun 10	Ends: 1986 Dec 22	Date of release: 2016 Jul 21		Classification: Secret	Pages: 314
PREM19/1693	Defence (Arms control) (Part 7)	Begins: 1985 Aug 1	Ends: 1986 Feb 27	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 390
PREM19/1694	Defence (Arms control) (Part 8)	Begins: 1986 Mar 5	Ends: 1986 Jun 27	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30		Classification: Secret - UK Eyes A	Pages: 321
PREM19/1695	Defence (Arms control) (Part 9)	Begins: 1986 Jul 1	Ends: 1986 Nov 28	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30		Classification: Secret - UK Eyes	Pages: 427
PREM19/1696	Defence (Defence sales) (Part 6)	Begins: 1985 Nov 4	Ends: 1986 Jul 31	Date of release: Retained		Classification: Temporarily retained by Department
PREM19/1697	Defence (Defence sales) (Part 7)	Begins: 1986 Aug 1	Ends: 1986 Dec 24	Date of release: Retained		Classification: Temporarily retained by Department
PREM19/1698	Diplomatic Misions (Armed protection for British government representatives overseas: carriage of arms by bodyguards of VIP visitors)	Begins: 1980 Jan 8	Ends: 1986 Apr 6	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30		Classification: Confidential	Pages: 122
PREM19/1699	Disasters (Ethiopian famine relief)	Begins: 1984 Oct 25	Ends: 1986 Jan 1	Date of release: 2015 Jul 16		Classification: Top Secret	Pages: 196
PREM19/1700	Downing Street (Libel action by Richard Holt MP against The Teacher magazine: risk that No.10 staff may be called to give evidence)	Begins: 1986 Mar 17	Ends: 1986 May 22	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30		Classification: Unclassified	Pages: 31
PREM19/1701	Economic policy (Public Spending) (Part 34)	Begins: 1985 Dec 5	Ends: 1986 May 5	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30		Classification: Confidential	Pages: 306
PREM19/1702	Economic policy (Public spending) (Part 35)	Begins: 1986 Jun 2	Ends: 1986 Sep 30	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 518
PREM19/1703	Economic policy (Policy towards privatisation: disposal of public sector assets; contracting out of public sector functions; flotation of Royal Ordnance PLC; Transport and General Workers' Union (TGWU) picketing at DHSS Huyton Local Office over privatised cleaning contract) (Part 13)	Begins: 1985 Dec 2	Ends: 1986 Jun 27	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30
PREM19/1704	Economic policy (Policy towards privatisation: disposal of public sector assets; contracting out of public sector functions; flotation of Royal Ordnance PLC; Transport and General Workers' Union (TGWU) picketing at DHSS Huyton Local Office over privatised cleaning contract) (Part 14)	Begins: 1986 Jul 9	Ends: 1986 Oct 29	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30
PREM19/1705	Economic policy (Economic strategy: pay and prices; economic statistics) (Part 26)	Begins: 1984 Mar 15	Ends: 1985 Dec 16	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 385
PREM19/1706	Economic policy (International finance: indebtedness and effect on Western banking system; British exposure) (Part 5)	Begins: 1985 Jan 1	Ends: 1986 Feb 5	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 387
PREM19/1707	Economic policy (Domestic monetary policy) (Part 15)	Begins: 1985 Dec 2	Ends: 1986 Sep 30	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 448
PREM19/1708	Economic policy (Reform of personal taxation: preparation of Green Paper on personal taxation (husband and wife); partnership taxation) (Part 2)	Begins: 1984 Jan 10	Ends: 1986 Jan 29	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 203
PREM19/1709	Economic policy (Reform of personal taxation: draft Green Paper by Chancellor of the Exchequer; 'historic papers' on Sir Geoffrey Howe's proposals in 1982-1983 for family taxation reform)	Begins: 1985 Sep 27	Ends: 1985 Dec 3	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 236
PREM19/1710	Economic policy (Prime Minister's bilaterals with the Chancellor of the Exchequer) (Part 1)	Begins: 1983 Oct 4	Ends: 1986 Oct 29	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 180
PREM19/1711	Economic policy (Competition Policy) (Part 1)	Begins: 1983 Dec 16	Ends: 1986 Feb 28	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30		Classification: Confidential	Pages: 182
PREM19/1712	Economic policy (Consultation with International Monetary Fund (IMF): meetings with IMF and World Bank)(Part 2)	Begins: 1983 Mar 7	Ends: 1986 Sep 29	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30		Classification: Confidential	Pages: 256
PREM19/1713	Economic policy (Private direct investment overseas: British representation at United States conference on private sector initiatives)	Begins: 1984 Jan 19	Ends: 1986 Dec 16	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30		Classification: Confidential	Pages: 132
PREM19/1714	Economic policy (G7 Summit - Tokyo) (Part 20)	Begins: 1985 Jun 14	Ends: 1986 May 6	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30	Any docs withheld? 1	Classification: Secret	Pages: 388
PREM19/1715	Economic policy (G7 Summit - Tokyo) (Part 21)	Begins: 1985 Apr 30	Ends: 1986 May 6	Date of release: 2016 Jul 21	Any docs withheld? 1	Classification: Secret	Pages: 197
PREM19/1716	Economic policy (Simplifying the tax legislation: correspondence with Peter Rowland of Rowland Debono Ltd)	Begins: 1983 May 10	Ends: 1986 Aug 11	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30		Classification: Confidential	Pages: 179
PREM19/1717	Economic policy (Financial Services Bill: the Stock Exchange; commercial fraud; Roskill Report on Fraud Trials) (Part 2)	Begins: 1985 Oct 1	Ends: 1986 Jan 31	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30		Classification: Confidential	Pages: 268
PREM19/1718	Economic policy (Financial Services Bill: Stock Exchange deregulation, the 'Big Bang' commercial fraud; Roskill Report on Fraud Trials) (Part 3)	Begins: 1985 Feb 3	Ends: 1986 Sep 26	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30	Any docs withheld? 1	Classification: Confidential	Pages: 352
PREM19/1719	Economic policy (Pay Review Body reports: pay of civil servants, armed forces and National Health Service (NHS); future of Top Salaries Review Body (TSRB)) (Part 8)	Begins: 1985 Dec 10	Ends: 1986 Sep 29	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 340
PREM19/1720	Economic policy (The Budget, 1985 and 1986) (Part 14)	Begins: 1985 Mar 11	Ends: 1986 Jan 31	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 399
PREM19/1721	Economic policy (The 1986 Budget) (Part 15)	Begins: 1986 Feb 5	Ends: 1986 Apr 24	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 354
PREM19/1722	Education (General policy on education and education expenditure: grant aided schools; biased teaching and political indoctrination in schools and colleges) (Part 6)	Begins: 1985 Sep 4	Ends: 1986 Apr 29	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30		Classification: Confidential	Pages: 431
PREM19/1723	Education (General policy on education and education expenditure: biased teaching and political indoctrination in schools and colleges; University funding) (Part 7)	Begins: 1986 May 6	Ends: 1986 May 30	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30		Classification: Confidential	Pages: 387
PREM19/1724	Education (General policy on education and education expenditure: introduction of General Certificate of Education (GCSE); Education Bill; biased teaching and political indoctrination in schools and colleges; city technological colleges; restructuring school education) (Part 8)	Begins: 1986 Jun 2	Ends: 1986 Sep 25	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 284
PREM19/1725	Education (General policy on education and education expenditure: city technology colleges; Education Bill; academic tenure; education reform; implications of removing responsibility for education from Local Education Authorities (LEAs); future of polytechnics) (Part 9)	Begins: 1986 Oct 1	Ends: 1986 Oct 31	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 215
PREM19/1726	Education (Secondary school education: reform of examinations for pupils of 16-plus; school governing bodies; education for economic awareness) (Part 3)	Begins: 1984 Jun 12	Ends: 1986 Mar 18	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30		Classification: Confidential	Pages: 172
PREM19/1727	Education (Training: White Paper on vocational education and training for jobs; extension of technical and vocational education; proposed National Council for Vocational Qualifications (NCVQ)) (Part 2)	Begins: 1984 Jan 3	Ends: 1986 Jun 30	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 373
PREM19/1728	Education (Student loans: review of financial support for students) (Part 1)	Begins: 1981 Mar 23	Ends: 1986 May 19	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30		Classification: Confidential	Pages: 262
PREM19/1729	Education (Teachers’ pay) (Part 5)	Begins: 1985 Aug 1	Ends: 1985 Dec 23	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 322
PREM19/1730	Education (Teachers' pay) (Part 6)	Begins: 1986 Jan 6	Ends: 1986 Mar 26	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30		Classification: Confidential	Pages: 332
PREM19/1731	Education (Teachers' pay) (Part 7)	Begins: 1986 Apr 15	Ends: 1986 Oct 2	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 248
PREM19/1732	Education (Teachers' pay) (Part 8)	Begins: 1986 Oct 10	Ends: 1986 Oct 31	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 235
PREM19/1733	Egypt (Anglo-Egyptian relations: defence sales to Egypt; internal situation) (Part 1)	Begins: 1980 Nov 4	Ends: 1986 Jun 27	Date of release: 2018 Jul 24	Any docs withheld? 9	Classification: Secret	Pages: 357
PREM19/1734	Egypt (Visits to the UK by Prime Ministers, Dr Mustafa Khalil and Dr Ali Loutfi: meetings with the Prime Minister)	Begins: 1979 Oct 22	Ends: 1986 Sep 16	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30		Classification: Confidential	Pages: 55
PREM19/1735	Elections (Election procedure)	Begins: 1986 Sep 2	Ends: 1986 Oct 21	Date of release: 2018 Jul 18
PREM19/1736	Energy (Conservation and efficiency: Energy Efficiency Office; report of Select Committee on Energy; energy efficiency grants; energy saving in government offices) (Part 2)	Begins: 1980 Jul 3	Ends: 1986 Oct 31	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30		Classification: Confidential	Pages: 199

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