Archive

Treasury Private Office papers

In 2012 www.margaretthatcher.org uncovered through an FOI request the existence of a vast cache of secret papers stored at H.M. Treasury, some 4,850 files from the Private Office of successive Chancellors (and Chief Secretaries) between 1979 and 1997.

The files contain the most politically sensitive documents from the very top of the Treasury, the small circle of Ministers, Special Advisers and Private Secretaries, which were stored, when in use, only a few doors from the Chancellor's room for convenience and security. Their like is rarely found at the National Archives in Kew. These documents are of deep historical interest, an intact Private Office collection in scale and importance exceeded only by that from No.10 itself, relied on by Treasury ministers when writing their memoirs. It is an un-looted tomb in Whitehall's Valley of the Kings – the Palace accountant's rather than the Pharaoh's, but well worth the ticket.

When it first revealed the existence of the files the Treasury stated that it intended to destroy the whole lot, waiting politely till the various Chancellors died off. It was claimed, quite mistakenly, that the contents of these files are either ephemeral or copied elsewhere, and so should not be considered part of "the definitive policy record" maintained by its various divisions for archiving at Kew.

Later, and following representations, officials denied that destruction was ever intended. The first section, covering the Chancellorship of Sir Geoffrey Howe, 1979-83, was released at TNA in 2016; the files have been digitised and uploaded to the list below. The bulk of Nigel Lawson's files, 1983-89, were released at TNA in early 2018 and have also been digitised; they are being uploaded progressively and many are now available on this page. The spreadsheet giving the full list 1979-97 can be downloaded below.

Although some of the files relate to 1979 and 1980, the filing system glimpsed here only got into full operation in 1981, so earlier records are something of a legacy from what went before and are significantly fewer.

The Treasury has also released Nick Ridley's surviving Private Office files as Financial Secretary to the Treasury. These are diferent in form to the Chancellor's files, consisting largely of photocopies of minutes and meetings records relating to directly to Ridley with very little incoming correspondence. They are not listed in the spreadsheet already mentioned, so must derive from the 'unstructured' files already referred to. They are in rough chronological order – a sort of day file.

How to use this page?

Below are links to the downloadable files in numerical order. The original file names have been modified to convey content more readily.

An average file has around 100 pages.

Some of these downloads are very big, as large as 50MB, though most are in the range 1-10MB.

Where documents within a file have been selected for the site database, they can easily be viewed by clicking the file name link.

Selected documents in site database

Documents from the files selected for the site database can be read here. Progressively more will be uploaded over time.

Showing items 401 - 450 of 5082

Per page:
File name File title Begins Ends Release date Any docs withheld? Classification Pages
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
PREM19/351 Rhodesia (Constitutional Conference, Lancaster House, London, Sept-Dec 1979: proceedings & conference papers, CC (79) 80-105) Begins: 1979 Nov 19 Ends: 1979 Dec 13 Date of release: 2010 Dec 30 Classification: Restricted Pages: 235
PREM19/352 Rhodesia (Constitutional Conference, Lancaster House, London, Sept-Dec 1979: proceedings & conference papers, CC (79) 106-109) Begins: 1979 Dec 15 Ends: 1979 Dec 15 Date of release: 2010 Dec 30 Classification: Restricted Pages: 148
PREM19/353 Rhodesia (Constitutional Conference, Lancaster House, London, Sept-Dec 1979: Report) Begins: 1979 Dec 21 Ends: 1979 Dec 21 Date of release: 2010 Dec 30 Classification: Unclassified Pages: 168
PREM19/354 Royal Family (Visit to France by Prince Charles, July 1980) Begins: 1980 Apr 15 Ends: 1980 Apr 30 Date of release: 2010 Dec 30 Classification: Confidential Pages: 8
PREM19/356 Security (Leak of documents on defence expenditure to Press Association) Begins: 1980 Oct 23 Ends: 1980 Dec 17 Date of release: 2010 Dec 30 Classification: Secret Pages: 84
PREM19/357 Security (Review of adequacy of leaks procedure) Begins: 1980 Jan 4 Ends: 1980 Aug 4 Date of release: 2010 Dec 30 Classification: Confidential Pages: 57
PREM19/358 Security (Article by Duncan Campbell in New Statesman on US National Security Agency (NSA) activities at Menwith Hill, North Yorkshire) Begins: 1980 Jul 18 Ends: 1980 Jul 28 Date of release: 2010 Dec 30 Classification: Secret Pages: 11
PREM19/360 Security (Alleged connection between Czech Intelligence Service and John Stonehouse) Begins: 1980 Jul 7 Ends: 1980 Oct 6 Date of release: 2010 Dec 30 Classification: Secret Pages: 11
PREM19/362 Security (Leak in Guardian and Time Out of Ministerial discussion on civil nuclear power programme) Begins: 1979 Dec 6 Ends: 1980 Mar 24 Date of release: 2010 Dec 30 Classification: Secret Pages: 23
PREM19/365 Social Services (Rayner study on arrangements for paying social security benefits) (Part 1) Begins: 1979 Nov 22 Ends: 1980 Sep 30 Date of release: 2010 Dec 30 Classification: Confidential Pages: 282
PREM19/366 Social Services (Taxation of short term benefits, supplementary benefits and strikers' benefits; financial treatment of strikers and their families) (Part 2) Begins: 1980 Jan 3 Ends: 1980 Feb 25 Date of release: 2010 Dec 30 Classification: Confidential Pages: 101
PREM19/367 Social Services (Taxation of short term benefits, supplementary benefits and strikers' benefits; financial treatment of strikers and their families) (Part 3) Begins: 1980 Feb 26 Ends: 1980 Jul 1 Date of release: 2010 Dec 30 Classification: Confidential Pages: 111
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