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 951 - 1000 of 3726

Per page:
File name File title Begins Ends Release date Any docs withheld? Classification Pages
PREM19/951 Argentina (Falklands) (Part 33) Begins: 1983 Mar 3 Ends: 1983 Apr 30 Date of release: 2013 Aug 1 Any docs withheld? 9 Classification: Secret Pages: 322
PREM19/952 Argentina (Falklands) (Part 34) Begins: 1983 Apr 2 Ends: 1983 Sep 16 Date of release: 2013 Aug 1 Any docs withheld? 6 Classification: Secret Pages: 313
PREM19/953 Argentina (Falklands) (Part 35) Begins: 1983 Sep 19 Ends: 1983 Dec 30 Date of release: 2013 Aug 1 Any docs withheld? 13 Classification: Secret Pages: 347
PREM19/954 Argentina (Falklands: sensitive briefing - defence after repossession) (Part 12) Begins: 1982 Dec 27 Ends: 1983 Mar 12 Date of release: Retained Sec 3.4 Classification: Unknown
PREM19/955 Argentina (Falkland Islands Review Committee (chaired by Lord Franks); general correspondence) (Part 3) Begins: 1982 Oct 29 Ends: 1983 Jan 18 Date of release: 2013 Aug 1 Any docs withheld? 1 Classification: Secret Pages: 264
PREM19/956 Argentina (Falkland Islands Review Committee (chaired by Lord Franks): general correspondence) (Part 4) Begins: 1983 Jan 19 Ends: 1983 May 6 Date of release: 2013 Aug 1 Classification: Secret Pages: 229
PREM19/957 Argentina (Falkland Islands Review Committee (chaired by Lord Franks): documentation used by Prime Minister in preparation for 25-26 January 1983 debate in House of Commons on Committee's report) Begins: 1983 Jan 14 Ends: 1983 Jan 26 Date of release: 2013 Aug 1 Classification: Secret Pages: 140
PREM19/958 Arts and amenities (Policy towards the arts; private sponsorship; financial scrutiny) (Part 1) Begins: 1980 Mar 26 Ends: 1983 Nov 23 Date of release: 2013 Aug 1 Classification: Confidential Pages: 288
PREM19/959 Belize (Future of Belize) (Part 1) Begins: 1980 Apr 1 Ends: 1982 May 4 Date of release: 2013 Aug 1 Classification: Secret Pages: 252
PREM19/960 Broadcasting (Direct broadcasting by satellite; development of cable systems and services; broadcasting policy) (Part 3) Begins: 1982 Nov 25 Ends: 1983 May 5 Date of release: 2013 Aug 1 Classification: Confidential Pages: 297
PREM19/961 Cabinet (Brevity in recording of Cabinet and Committee minutes; guidance on Cabinet papers) Begins: 1979 May 21 Ends: 1983 Jun 17 Date of release: 2013 Aug 1 Classification: Confidential Pages: 9
PREM19/962 China (Prime Minister's visit to China, Hong Kong & Japan, September 1982: policy) (Part 2) Begins: 1982 Sep 13 Ends: 1983 Feb 24 Date of release: 2013 Aug 1 Classification: Secret Pages: 186
PREM19/963 China (Sino/British relations; defence sales) (Part 1) Begins: 1979 May 10 Ends: 1983 Nov 21 Date of release: 2013 Aug 1 Any docs withheld? 1 Classification: Secret Pages: 341
PREM19/964 Civil service (Manpower reductions in the Cabinet Office) Begins: 1979 Jul 20 Ends: 1983 May 9 Date of release: 2013 Aug 1 Classification: Confidential Pages: 59
PREM19/965 Civil service (Lecture on the Civil Service given by Sir John Hoskyns) Begins: 1982 Oct 15 Ends: 1982 Dec 9 Date of release: 2013 Aug 1 Classification: Unclassified Pages: 55
PREM19/966 Civil service (Annual scrutiny of departmental running costs) (Part 2) Begins: 1981 Aug 19 Ends: 1983 Sep 19 Date of release: 2013 Aug 1 Classification: Confidential Pages: 373
PREM19/967 Civil service (Long-term management and manpower policy; policy on Civil Service numbers, Financial Management Initiative; response to Select Committee report on efficiency and effectiveness in Civil Service; the extension of unified grading; obligations of managers) (Part 12) Begins: 1982 Dec 2 Ends: 1983 May 24 Date of release: 2013 Aug 1
PREM19/968 Civil service (Long-term management and manpower policy; Financial Management Initiative - draft White Paper; policy on Civil Service numbers; personnel work in Civil Service; the extension of unified grading) (Part 13) Begins: 1983 May 26 Ends: 1983 Sep 20 Date of release: 2013 Aug 1 Classification: Secret Pages: 245
PREM19/969 Commonwealth (Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Delhi, November 1983: policy) (Part 5) Begins: 1983 Jul 25 Ends: 1983 Nov 18 Date of release: 2013 Aug 1 Any docs withheld? 5 Classification: Secret Pages: 352
PREM19/970 Commonwealth (Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Delhi, November 1983: policy) (Part 6) Begins: 1983 Nov 19 Ends: 1983 Nov 26 Date of release: 2013 Aug 1 Classification: Secret Pages: 232
PREM19/971 Cyprus (Internal situation; UK/Cypriot relations) (Part 1) Begins: 1980 Feb 29 Ends: 1983 Nov 29 Date of release: 2013 Aug 1 Classification: Secret Pages: 355
PREM19/972 Defence (Briefing on military capabilities of Warsaw Pact) Begins: 1979 May 21 Ends: 1983 Jan 19 Date of release: 2013 Aug 1 Classification: Top Secret Pages: 25
PREM19/973 Defence (Arms control) (Part 4) Begins: 1983 Jan 25 Ends: 1983 Nov 23 Date of release: 2013 Aug 1 Classification: Top Secret - UK Eyes A Pages: 261
PREM19/974 Defence (Procurement of weapon systems: HARM/ALARM anti-radar missiles; rising cost of defence equipment; competition in defence procurement) (Part 1) Begins: 1983 Mar 29 Ends: 1983 Nov 23 Date of release: 2013 Aug 1 Classification: Secret Pages: 291
PREM19/975 Defence (Control of nuclear weapon systems deployed in UK: correspondence from David Owen) Begins: 1982 Dec 8 Ends: 1983 Nov 18 Date of release: 2013 Aug 1 Classification: Top Secret Pages: 74
PREM19/976 Defence (Exports of defence equipment to Iran; sanctions; delivery of Iranian ship 'Kharg') Begins: 1979 Jun 7 Ends: 1983 Sep 21 Date of release: 2013 Aug 1 Classification: Secret Pages: 138
PREM19/977 Defence (Defence budget) (Part 9) Begins: 1982 Jul 6 Ends: 1983 Apr 29 Date of release: 2013 Aug 1 Classification: Secret Pages: 221
PREM19/978 Defence (Future UK defence policy; the health of the NATO Alliance; review of NATO) (Part 1) Begins: 1979 Oct 5 Ends: 1983 Oct 3 Date of release: 2013 Aug 1 Any docs withheld? 1 Classification: Secret Pages: 246
PREM19/979 Defence (Modernisation of Theatre Nuclear Forces (TNF) in Europe; proposed basing of United States Ground Launched Cruise Missiles (GLCM) in the UK; Geneva talks on Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF)) (Part 3) Begins: 1982 Oct 20 Ends: 1983 Sep 21 Date of release: 2013 Aug 1 Classification: Top Secret Pages: 353
PREM19/980 Defence (Nuclear release procedures; understandings between the USA and UK on use of nuclear weapons and bases; Anglo/German defence understanding) (Part 3) Begins: 1982 Feb 26 Ends: 1983 Mar 4 Date of release: Retained Sec 3.4 Classification: Unknown
PREM19/981 DISASTERS. Collapse of Norwegian oil rig 'Alexander Kielland' in North Sea: PM's message of condolence... Begins: 1980 Mar 28 Ends: 1980 Aug 11 Date of release: 2013 Aug 1 Classification: Unclassified Pages: 43
PREM19/982 Economic policy (Abolition of Economic Planning Councils) Begins: 1979 Jul 17 Ends: 1979 Jul 25 Date of release: 2013 Aug 1 Classification: Confidential Pages: 45
PREM19/983 Economic policy (Public Spending) (Part 21) Begins: 1982 Oct 1 Ends: 1983 Jan 24 Date of release: 2013 Aug 1 Classification: Secret Pages: 184
PREM19/984 Economic policy (Public Spending) (Part 22) Begins: 1983 Jan 24 Ends: 1983 Jun 29 Date of release: 2013 Aug 1 Classification: Secret Pages: 272
PREM19/985 Economic policy (Public Spending) (Part 23) Begins: 1983 Jul 1 Ends: 1983 Jul 29 Date of release: 2013 Aug 1 Classification: Secret Pages: 286
PREM19/986 Economic policy (Public Spending) (Part 24) Begins: 1983 Aug 1 Ends: 1983 Oct 28 Date of release: 2013 Aug 1 Classification: Secret Pages: 320
PREM19/987 Economic policy (Public Spending) (Part 25) Begins: 1983 Nov 1 Ends: 1983 Nov 30 Date of release: 2013 Aug 1 Classification: Secret Pages: 312
PREM19/988 Economic policy (Privatisation) (Part 6) Begins: 1982 Jul 26 Ends: 1983 Jan 18 Date of release: 2013 Aug 1 Classification: Confidential Pages: 268
PREM19/989 Economic policy (Privatisation) (Part 7) Begins: 1983 Jan 31 Ends: 1983 Sep 30 Date of release: 2013 Aug 1 Classification: Secret Pages: 248
PREM19/990 Economic policy (Privatisation) (Part 8) Begins: 1983 Oct 3 Ends: 1983 Dec 29 Date of release: 2013 Aug 1 Classification: Secret Pages: 153
PREM19/991 Economic policy (Strategy) (Part 21) Begins: 1983 Jan 21 Ends: 1983 Feb 7 Date of release: 2013 Aug 1 Classification: Secret Pages: 350
PREM19/992 Economic policy (Strategy) (Part 24) Begins: 1983 Jun 6 Ends: 1983 Aug 25 Date of release: 2013 Aug 1 Classification: Secret Pages: 431
PREM19/993 Economic policy (Reform of personal taxation; taxation of savings; mortgage interest tax relief; taxation of husband and wife) (Part 1) Begins: 1980 Mar 14 Ends: 1983 Dec 23 Date of release: 2013 Aug 1 Classification: Confidential Pages: 411
PREM19/994 Economic policy (Panamanian freight tax) Begins: 1983 Dec 30 Ends: 1984 Apr 2 Date of release: 2013 Aug 1 Classification: Confidential Pages: 37
PREM19/995 Economic policy (Liaison Committee on presentation of government policies; nuclear opinion poll; guidance to Ministers and MPs) (Part 3) Begins: 1982 Dec 1 Ends: 1984 Oct 8 Date of release: 2013 Aug 1 Classification: Confidential Pages: 322
PREM19/996 Economic policy (Budget) (Part 9) Begins: 1982 Oct 19 Ends: 1983 Jan 31 Date of release: 2013 Aug 1 Classification: Secret Pages: 280
PREM19/997 Economic policy (Budget) (Part 10) Begins: 1983 Feb 3 Ends: 1983 Mar 15 Date of release: 2013 Aug 1 Classification: Secret Pages: 321
PREM19/998 Economic policy (Domestic monetary policy) (Part 10) Begins: 1982 Feb 1 Ends: 1983 Oct 10 Date of release: 2013 Aug 1 Classification: Secret Pages: 272
PREM19/999 Economic policy (International banking system) (Part 2) Begins: 1982 Dec 1 Ends: 1983 Aug 23 Date of release: 2013 Aug 1 Classification: Secret Pages: 413
PREM19/1000 Economic policy (Public sector pay policy; Treasury monitoring reports) (Part 9) Begins: 1982 Nov 1 Ends: 1983 Apr 6 Date of release: 2013 Aug 1 Classification: Secret Pages: 188
Per page: