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 1401 - 1450 of 3727

Per page:

File name	File title	Begins	Ends	Release date	Any docs withheld?	Classification	Pages
PREM19/1402	USA (Visit to UK by US Ambassador to the United Nations, Mrs Jeane Kirkpatrick, April 1984: meeting with Prime Minister)	Begins: 1984 Mar 23	Ends: 1984 Oct 16	Date of release: 2014 Jan 3		Classification: Secret	Pages: 69
PREM19/1403	USA (Visit to UK by Donald Rumsfeld, President Reagan’s special Middle East envoy: meeting with Prime Minister)	Begins: 1984 Jan 16	Ends: 1984 Jan 20	Date of release: 2014 Jan 3	Any docs withheld? 1	Classification: Confidential	Pages: 29
PREM19/1404	USA (UK/USA relations) (Part 2)	Begins: 1982 May 10	Ends: 1984 Feb 28	Date of release: 2014 Jan 3	Any docs withheld? 1	Classification: Top Secret	Pages: 305
PREM19/1405	USA (Internal political situation; 1980 and 1984 Presidential election campaigns) (Part 1)	Begins: 1979 May 4	Ends: 1984 Nov 7	Date of release: 2014 Jan 3	Any docs withheld? 1	Classification: Secret	Pages: 457
PREM19/1406	Yugoslavia (Visit to UK by Prime Minister Milka Planinc, November 1983: meeting with Prime Minister)	Begins: 1982 Jun 30	Ends: 1983 Nov 25	Date of release: 2014 Jan 3		Classification: Confidential	Pages: 233
PREM19/1407	Zaire (Visits to UK by President Mobutu, December 1981 and September 1984: meetings with Prime Minister)	Begins: 1981 Nov 19	Ends: 1984 Dec 4	Date of release: 2014 Jan 3		Classification: Confidential	Pages: 70
PREM19/1408	Ireland (Prime Minister's meetings with Taoiseach, Garret FitzGerald; Anglo-Irish Summits) (Part 7)	Begins: 1983 Nov 1	Ends: 1984 Nov 23	Date of release: 2014 Jan 3	Any docs withheld? 3	Classification: Secret	Pages: 495
PREM19/1409	Aerospace(Presentation on United States manned space station at Lancaster House during London Economic Summit, 1984)	Begins: 1984 Mar 20	Ends: 1984 Jun 6	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30		Classification: Confidential	Pages: 18
PREM19/1410	Aerospace (Rolls-Royce V2500 engine project)	Begins: 1984 Jan 31	Ends: 1984 May 17	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30		Classification: Confidential	Pages: 30
PREM19/1411	Aerospace (European Airbus A320 project: UK participation in European Transonic Windtunnel project) (Part 1)	Begins: 1982 Mar 30	Ends: 1985 Jun 24	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 259
PREM19/1412	Aerospace (Future of British Airways (BA): BA privatisation and United States anti-trust suits; Laker Airways liquidation; airports policy) (Part 3)	Begins: 1984 Nov 2	Ends: 1985 Apr 3	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 289
PREM19/1413	Aerospace (Space policy: formation of British National Space Centre (BNSC)) (Part 1)	Begins: 1980 Jun 20	Ends: 1985 Nov 29	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 265
PREM19/1414	Aerospace (UK-Hong Kong air services licensing appeal: demise of Laker Airways; Hong Kong-Australia Air Services Agreement)	Begins: 1980 Jun 12	Ends: 1985 Oct 9	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 184
PREM19/1415	Aerospace (Westland Helicopters) (Part 1A)	Begins: 1985 Apr 30	Ends: 1985 Dec 10	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 205
PREM19/1416	Aerospace (Westland Helicopters) (Part 1B)	Begins: 1985 Dec 10	Ends: 1985 Dec 27	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30		Classification: Confidential	Pages: 213
PREM19/1417	Aerospace (Third London Airport)	Begins: 1979 Nov 27	Ends: 1985 Jan 30	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30		Classification: Confidential	Pages: 230
PREM19/1418	Agriculture (Agricultural expenditure) (Part 1)	Begins: 1983 Sep 23	Ends: 1985 Oct 31	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 307
PREM19/1419	Agriculture (Liquid milk prices: milk marketing) (Part 2)	Begins: 1981 Mar 18	Ends: 1985 Jun 28	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30		Classification: Confidential	Pages: 279
PREM19/1420	Argentina (Falklands) (Part 39)	Begins: 1984 Nov 1	Ends: 1985 Apr 25	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30	Any docs withheld? 4	Classification: Secret	Pages: 383
PREM19/1421	Australia (Anglo-Australian relations: internal situation; trading relations with the EEC) (Part 1)	Begins: 1979 Sep 26	Ends: 1985 Dec 30	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30	Any docs withheld? 15	Classification: Secret	Pages: 317
PREM19/1422	Broadcasting (Television licence fees: finances of BBC; pay in the BBC; review of external services) (Part 1)	Begins: 1979 Jul 6	Ends: 1985 Mar 28	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30		Classification: Confidential	Pages: 407
PREM19/1423	Canada (UK/Canadian relations: patriation of the Canadian constitution) (Part 5)	Begins: 1982 Feb 11	Ends: 1985 Jun 14	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 263
PREM19/1424	Chile (UK/Chilean relations: policy on arms sales)	Begins: 1979 Sep 17	Ends: 1985 Dec 9	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30	Any docs withheld? 9	Classification: Secret	Pages: 328
PREM19/1425	China (Sino-British relations; defence sales) (Part 2)	Begins: 1984 Mar 19	Ends: 1985 May 31	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30	Any docs withheld? 4	Classification: Secret	Pages: 236
PREM19/1426	China (Visit to UK by Chinese Prime Minister, Zhao Ziyang, June 1985: meetings with Prime Minister) (Part 2)	Begins: 1982 Jul 19	Ends: 1985 Jun 21	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 285
PREM19/1427	Civil Service (Long term management and manpower policy) (Part 17)	Begins: 1984 Dec 4	Ends: 1985 Aug 30	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30		Classification: Confidential	Pages: 303
PREM19/1428	Civil Service (Pay and pensions: performance related pay) (Part 14)	Begins: 1984 Mar 2	Ends: 1985 Feb 25	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 274
PREM19/1429	Civil Service (Assassination and death in service: policy on compensation for civil servants' families)	Begins: 1984 May 21	Ends: 1985 Nov 20	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30	Any docs withheld? 24	Classification: Confidential	Pages: 110
PREM19/1430	Civil Service (Scrutiny of Overseas Development Administration (ODA): correspondence from civil servant in ODA)	Begins: 1982 Feb 12	Ends: 1985 Dec 3	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30	Any docs withheld? 9	Classification: Confidential	Pages: 59
PREM19/1431	Commonwealth (Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), Nassau, Bahamas, October 1985) (Part 9)	Begins: 1984 Jun 18	Ends: 1985 Oct 13	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30	Any docs withheld? 1	Classification: Secret	Pages: 242
PREM19/1432	Cyprus (Internal situation: UK/Cyprus relations) (Part 2)	Begins: 1983 Dec 1	Ends: 1985 May 31	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30	Any docs withheld? 9	Classification: Secret	Pages: 446
PREM19/1433	Cyprus (Visits to the UK by President Kyprianou: meetings with Prime Minister) (Part 1)	Begins: 1979 Dec 10	Ends: 1985 Jan 14	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30	Any docs withheld? 3	Classification: Secret	Pages: 386
PREM19/1434	Defence (Higher defence organisation: Ministerial responsibilities; Management Information System for Ministers (MINIS))	Begins: 1981 Feb 10	Ends: 1982 Jul 22	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30	Any docs withheld? 1	Classification: Confidential	Pages: 43
PREM19/1435	Defence (Celebration of 40th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day)	Begins: 1984 Oct 2	Ends: 1985 May 29	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30	Any docs withheld? 5	Classification: Confidential	Pages: 189
PREM19/1436	Defence (Report by General Sir Hugh Beach on the handling and control of military information)	Begins: 1983 Nov 1	Ends: 1985 Apr 18	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30		Classification: Confidential	Pages: 181
PREM19/1437	Defence (Proposal by Julian Amery MP to revive the Special Operations Executive (SOE): history of SOE in the Far East, Greece and Scandinavia)	Begins: 1980 Apr 3	Ends: 1985 Dec 16	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30	Any docs withheld? 12	Classification: Secret	Pages: 48
PREM19/1438	Defence (Correspondence concerning the Army Medal Office)	Begins: 1985 Jan 10	Ends: 1985 Mar 7	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30		Classification: Confidential	Pages: 37
PREM19/1439	Defence (Closures of and changes to Ministry of Defence (MOD) establishments: Prime Minister's visit to Royal College of Defence Studies (RCDS), December 1985)	Begins: 1985 May 19	Ends: 1985 Dec 10	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30		Classification: Confidential	Pages: 20
PREM19/1440	Defence (Procurement of weapon systems: national defence technological capabilities; rising cost of defence equipment; participation in European Fighter Aircraft project) (Part 2)	Begins: 1983 Dec 13	Ends: 1985 Jun 27	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 314
PREM19/1441	Defence (Armed Forces' pay: pay review body report; Service doctors' and dentists' pay; local and overseas allowance; London weighting) (Part 2)	Begins: 1982 Mar 11	Ends: 1985 Dec 12	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 270
PREM19/1442	Defence (Arms control) (Part 6A)	Begins: 1985 Mar 8	Ends: 1985 Jul 29	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30	Any docs withheld? 1	Classification: Secret	Pages: 231
PREM19/1443	Defence (Arms control) (Part 6B)	Begins: 1985 Jan 4	Ends: 1985 Feb 15	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30	Any docs withheld? 2	Classification: Secret	Pages: 218
PREM19/1444	Defence (Ballistic missile defence: United States Strategic Defence Initiative (SDI); UK participation in research programme) (Part 2)	Begins: 1985 Jan 2	Ends: 1985 Apr 30	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 225
PREM19/1445	Defence (Ballistic missile defence: United States Strategic Defence Initiative (SDI); UK participation in research programme) (Part 3)	Begins: 1985 May 30	Ends: 1985 Nov 29	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 285
PREM19/1446	Defence (Defence sales) (Part 5)	Begins: 1985 Jan 2	Ends: 1985 Oct 25	Date of release: 2015 Jul 16	Any docs withheld? 30	Classification: Secret	Pages: 357
PREM19/1447	Defence (UK Strategic Nuclear Deterrent) (Part 6)	Begins: 1982 Dec 16	Ends: 1985 Jan 31	Date of release: Reconsideration in 2024		Classification: Retained Sec 3.4
PREM19/1448	Disasters (Bradford City Football Club fire: Prime Minister's visit to Bradford, May 1985)	Begins: 1985 May 12	Ends: 1985 May 22	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30		Classification: Confidential	Pages: 42
PREM19/1449	Downing Street (250th anniversary of Prime Minister's residence at 10 Downing Street; BBC documentary)	Begins: 1984 Dec 10	Ends: 1985 Dec 12	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30	Any docs withheld? 15	Classification: Confidential	Pages: 181
PREM19/1450	Drugs (Drug misuse: prevention; proposed legislation) (Part 1)	Begins: 1982 Nov 19	Ends: 1985 May 31	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30		Classification: Confidential	Pages: 252
PREM19/1451	Drugs (Drug misuse: trafficking; proposed legislation; Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) report) (Part 2)	Begins: 1985 Jun 3	Ends: 1985 Sep 30	Date of release: 2014 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 219

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