Archive

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 301 - 350 of 3727

Per page:
File name File title Begins Ends Release date Any docs withheld? Classification Pages
PREM19/301 National Health (Overspending by Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham Area Health Authority (AHA); removal of powers by Social Services Secretary; AHA resumption of powers following Court ruling) Begins: 1979 Jul 31 Ends: 1980 Mar 3 Date of release: 2010 Dec 30 Classification: Confidential Pages: 30
PREM19/302 Nationalised Industries (Coal mines) (Part 1) Begins: 1979 Jun 27 Ends: 1980 Mar 17 Date of release: 2010 Dec 30 Classification: Confidential Pages: 145
PREM19/303 Nationalised Industries (Gas and electricity prices; financial targets and energy pricing policy) (Part 1) Begins: 1979 Sep 28 Ends: 1980 Mar 21 Date of release: 2010 Dec 30 Classification: Confidential Pages: 231
PREM19/304 Nationalised Industries (Gas and electricity prices; financial targets and energy pricing policy) (Part 2) Begins: 1979 Mar 26 Ends: 1980 Oct 2 Date of release: 2010 Dec 30 Classification: Secret Pages: 164
PREM19/305 Nationalised Industries (Privatisation) (Part 1) Begins: 1979 May 9 Ends: 1980 Feb 18 Date of release: 2010 Dec 30 Classification: Confidential Pages: 97
PREM19/306 Nationalised Industries (Privatisation) (Part 2) Begins: 1980 Feb 21 Ends: 1980 Oct 17 Date of release: 2010 Dec 30 Classification: Confidential Pages: 150
PREM19/307 Nationalised Industries (British Steel Corporation; industrial action by steel unions; contingency planning) (Part 2) Begins: 1979 Nov 28 Ends: 1980 Jan 7 Date of release: 2010 Dec 30 Classification: Confidential Pages: 258
PREM19/308 Nationalised Industries (British Steel Corporation; industrial action by steel unions; contingency planning) (Part 3) Begins: 1980 Jan 8 Ends: 1980 Jan 22 Date of release: 2010 Dec 30 Classification: Secret Pages: 319
PREM19/309 Nationalised Industries (British Steel Corporation; industrial action by steel unions; contingency planning) (Part 4) Begins: 1980 Jan 22 Ends: 1980 Feb 15 Date of release: 2010 Dec 30 Classification: Secret Pages: 207
PREM19/310 Nationalised Industries (British Steel Corporation; industrial action by steel unions; pay negotiations; contingency planning) (Part 5) Begins: 1980 Feb 15 Ends: 1980 Mar 12 Date of release: 2010 Dec 30 Classification: Secret Pages: 226
PREM19/311 Nationalised Industries (British Steel Corporation (BSC); industrial action by steel unions; Lord Lever’s inquiry and recommendations for settlement accepted by BSC and Steel Union) (Part 6) Begins: 1980 Mar 12 Ends: 1980 Jul 30 Date of release: 2010 Dec 30 Classification: Secret Pages: 228
PREM19/312 Nationalised Industries (British Steel Corporation (BSC); BSC finances and future shape under new chairman; problems of private sector steel firms) (Part 7) Begins: 1980 Sep 12 Ends: 1980 Nov 27 Date of release: 2010 Dec 30 Classification: Secret Pages: 162
PREM19/313 Nationalised Industries (Water industry pay; contingency planning) (Part 7) Begins: 1979 Jun 4 Ends: 1980 Nov 17 Date of release: 2010 Dec 30 Classification: Confidential Pages: 55
PREM19/314 Nationalised Industries (Shipbuilding; British Shipbuilders (BS) strategy and financing; BS pay claim; privatisation) (Part 2) Begins: 1979 Dec 5 Ends: 1980 Nov 12 Date of release: 2010 Dec 30 Classification: Confidential Pages: 193
PREM19/315 Nationalised Industries (Correspondence with Alan Newman Ltd about contract for conversion of liner into floating hotel: negative response from Harland and Wolff and British Shipbuilders) Begins: 1980 Jul 2 Ends: 1980 Aug 4 Date of release: 2010 Dec 30 Classification: Unclassified Pages: 14
PREM19/316 New Hebrides (Independence; security situation; disturbances on Santo and Tanna; Anglo/French consultations) (Part 1) Begins: 1979 Aug 31 Ends: 1980 Jul 17 Date of release: 2010 Dec 30 Classification: Secret Pages: 153
PREM19/317 New Hebrides (Independence; security situation; disturbances on Santo; Anglo/French consultations; dispatch of military forces) (Part 2) Begins: 1980 Jul 18 Ends: 1980 Jul 30 Date of release: 2010 Dec 30 Classification: Secret Pages: 64
PREM19/318 New Zealand (Visit to UK by Brian Talboys, Deputy Prime Minister, December 1979, May 1980, and October 1980: meetings with Prime Minister) Begins: 1979 Nov 22 Ends: 1980 Oct 2 Date of release: 2010 Dec 30 Classification: Confidential Pages: 64
PREM19/319 Overseas Aid (Aid Policy Review: 1979-1980 and 1980-1981 aid programmes) (Part 1) Begins: 1979 Jun 19 Ends: 1980 Feb 20 Date of release: 2010 Dec 30 Classification: Confidential Pages: 188
PREM19/320 Pakistan (Visit to UK by Agha Shahi, Foreign Minister, June 1980: meeting with Prime Minister) Begins: 1980 Jun 12 Ends: 1980 Jun 19 Date of release: 2010 Dec 30 Classification: Confidential Pages: 70
PREM19/321 Parliament (Defence Committee inquiry into Polaris successor systems) Begins: 1980 May 9 Ends: 1980 Oct 17 Date of release: 2010 Dec 30 Classification: Top Secret Pages: 14
PREM19/322 Parliament (House of Commons procedure; reorganization of Select Committees; Departmental Select Committees) (Part 1) Begins: 1979 May 8 Ends: 1980 Jan 28 Date of release: 2010 Dec 30 Classification: Confidential Pages: 189
PREM19/323 Parliament (House of Commons procedure; reorganization of Select Committees; Departmental Select Committees; provision of evidence to Select Committees) (Part 2) Begins: 1980 Feb 1 Ends: 1980 Mar 13 Date of release: 2010 Dec 30 Classification: Confidential Pages: 240
PREM19/324 Parliament (House of Commons procedure; reorganization of Select Committees; Departmental Select Committees; provision of evidence to Select Committees) (Part 3) Begins: 1980 Mar 14 Ends: 1980 Jun 18 Date of release: 2010 Dec 30 Classification: Secret Pages: 290
PREM19/325 Parliament (Legislative programme) (Part 3) Begins: 1979 Nov 23 Ends: 1980 Feb 15 Date of release: 2010 Dec 30 Classification: Confidential Pages: 302
PREM19/326 Parliament (Legislative programme) (Part 4) Begins: 1980 Feb 15 Ends: 1980 Mar 31 Date of release: 2010 Dec 30 Classification: Secret Pages: 191
PREM19/327 Parliament (Legislative programme) (Part 5) Begins: 1980 Apr 1 Ends: 1980 Oct 23 Date of release: 2010 Dec 30 Classification: Confidential Pages: 188
PREM19/328 Parliament (Top Salaries Review Body report on Parliamentary pay) (Part 1) Begins: 1979 Jun 8 Ends: 1980 Feb 7 Date of release: 2010 Dec 30 Classification: Secret Pages: 243
PREM19/329 Parliament (Top Salaries Review Body report on Parliamentary pay) (Part 2) Begins: 1980 Feb 12 Ends: 1980 Jul 10 Date of release: 2010 Dec 30 Classification: Secret Pages: 194
PREM19/330 Parliament (Top Salaries Review Body report on Parliamentary pay) (Part 3) Begins: 1980 Jul 10 Ends: 1980 Nov 28 Date of release: 2010 Dec 30 Classification: Confidential Pages: 225
PREM19/331 Poland (Internal situation; relations with UK) (Part 1) Begins: 1979 Aug 22 Ends: 1980 Nov 28 Date of release: 2010 Dec 30 Classification: Secret Pages: 227
PREM19/332 Post and Telecommunications (Postal charges on articles for the blind) Begins: 1980 May 21 Ends: 1981 Jan 19 Date of release: 2010 Dec 30 Classification: Restricted Pages: 37
PREM19/333 Post and Telecommunications (Postal tariff increases; industrial dispute; finances; industrial democracy. Future of the Post Office: British Telecommunications (BT); telecommunications monopoly; postal monopoly) (Part 1) Begins: 1979 May 15 Ends: 1980 Jul 4 Date of release: 2010 Dec 30 Classification: Confidential Pages: 258
PREM19/334 Prime Minister (Meeting with Clifton C Garvin Jr, Chairman of Exxon, June 1980) Begins: 1979 Mar 6 Ends: 1980 Aug 28 Date of release: 2010 Dec 30 Classification: Confidential Pages: 47
PREM19/335 Prime Minister (Visits to government departments and regional visits) (Part 2) Begins: 1979 Sep 27 Ends: 1980 Jan 11 Date of release: 2010 Dec 30 Classification: Secret Pages: 240
PREM19/336 Prime Minister (Meeting with delegation from British Chamber of Commerce on trade union immunities) Begins: 1980 Apr 24 Ends: 1980 Jun 5 Date of release: 2010 Dec 30 Classification: Unclassified Pages: 34
PREM19/337 Prime Minister (Meeting with delegation from Kingston upon Hull on 24 April 1980 to discuss problems of the fishing industry) Begins: 1980 Apr 1 Ends: 1980 May 1 Date of release: 2010 Dec 30 Classification: Restricted Pages: 75
PREM19/338 Prime Minister (Meeting with Sir Horace Cutler to discuss Greater London Council (GLC) matters, December 1979) Begins: 1979 Oct 31 Ends: 1980 Mar 18 Date of release: 2010 Dec 30 Classification: Unclassified Pages: 63
PREM19/339 Prime Minister (Prime Minister’s visit to Dublin, December 1980: administrative arrangements) Begins: 1980 Sep 11 Ends: 1980 Dec 19 Date of release: 2010 Dec 30 Classification: Confidential Pages: 58
PREM19/340 Regional Policy (Establishment of Enterprise Zones; legislative requirements; choice of sites) (Part 2) Begins: 1979 Nov 20 Ends: 1980 Jun 26 Date of release: 2010 Dec 30 Classification: Confidential Pages: 192
PREM19/341 Rhodesia (Oil sanctions against Rhodesia; follow-up to Bingham Report; possible further review; proceedings by Lonrho against Shell and BP) Begins: 1979 May 17 Ends: 1980 Sep 22 Date of release: 2010 Dec 30 Classification: Confidential Pages: 129
PREM19/342 Rhodesia (Situation in) (Part 12) Begins: 1979 Dec 21 Ends: 1980 Jan 11 Date of release: 2010 Dec 30 Classification: Confidential Pages: 265
PREM19/343 Rhodesia (Situation in) (Part 13) Begins: 1980 Jan 12 Ends: 1980 Jan 24 Date of release: 2010 Dec 30 Classification: Secret Pages: 258
PREM19/344 Rhodesia (Situation in) (Part 14) Begins: 1980 Jan 25 Ends: 1980 Feb 15 Date of release: 2010 Dec 30 Classification: Confidential Pages: 297
PREM19/345 Rhodesia (Situation in) (Part 15) Begins: 1980 Feb 16 Ends: 1980 Feb 29 Date of release: 2010 Dec 30 Classification: Secret Pages: 221
PREM19/346 Rhodesia (Situation in) (Part 16) Begins: 1980 Feb 29 Ends: 1980 Mar 19 Date of release: 2010 Dec 30 Classification: Secret Pages: 224
PREM19/347 Rhodesia (Situation in) (Part 17) Begins: 1980 Mar 21 Ends: 1980 Aug 11 Date of release: 2010 Dec 30 Classification: Confidential Pages: 194
PREM19/348 Rhodesia (Constitutional Conference, Lancaster House, London, Sept-Dec 1979: submission folder; proceedings & conference papers, CC (79) 1-10) Begins: 1979 Jul 13 Ends: 1979 Sep 14 Date of release: 2010 Dec 30 Classification: Secret Pages: 419
PREM19/349 Rhodesia (Constitutional Conference, Lancaster House, London, Sept-Dec 1979: proceedings & conference papers, CC (79) 11-40) Begins: 1979 Sep 14 Ends: 1979 Oct 26 Date of release: 2010 Dec 30 Classification: Restricted Pages: 269
PREM19/350 Rhodesia (Constitutional Conference, Lancaster House, London, Sept-Dec 1979: proceedings & conference papers, CC (79) 41-79) Begins: 1979 Oct 27 Ends: 1979 Nov 16 Date of release: 2010 Dec 30 Classification: Restricted Pages: 324
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