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Archive (Walters MSS)

Economy: Alan Walters diary (PSBR) [Howe asks Walters for his PSBR position; Walters said would settle for 9; PM confused about TUC Treasury papers][released 2012]

Document type: Declassified documents
Source: Walters MSS (Churchill Archives Centre): WTRS 3/1/2
Editorial comments: Read other entries from this diary. View all Walters documents. The original diary can be studied here
Importance ranking: Major
Word count: 184
Themes: Monetary policy

Monday 1st February 1982

Saw GH [Sir Geoffrey Howe] he asked me what my PSBR position was. I prefer 8 but would settle for 9. He said politically he was considering 9½ what did I think. I said I would live with it but he was sacrificing some interest rate effects.

TB [Terry Burns] phoned about M1 - fixed up mtg.

Ryrie phoned to join a regular meeting on money and interest rates.

Lunch with Tim Lankester - Scholey [deputy chairman BSC] knows no economics and nothing about monetary policy - but good at motivating people etc.

to see Walter Salomon re his presentation at dinner - looked pretty disastrous - far too long.

PM saw me about TUC + Treasury Papers - the latter very academic. TUC was objecting to Direct investment overseas which is competing with UK. But then the Japs would be in Indonesia etc. Very confused.

CPRS [sic: Walters surely meant CPS; see opening of 3 Feb entry also] dinner for Donors: Walter Salomon walked out when he had gone on for 10-15 minutes - very angry because [gap in text]