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 601 - 650 of 5082

Per page:

File name	File title	Begins	Ends	Release date	Any docs withheld?	Classification	Pages
PREM19/519	Local government (Possibility of an Accounts Commission for Local Government)	Begins: 1979 Oct 31	Ends: 1981 Jun 6	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Confidential	Pages: 23
PREM19/520	Local government (Future of the City Corporation: correspondence with Sir Horace Cutler)	Begins: 1981 Mar 26	Ends: 1981 Jun 26	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Confidential	Pages: 25
PREM19/521	Luxembourg (Visit to UK by Gaston Thorn (Foreign Minister of Luxembourg and President-designate of the European Commission), October 1980: meeting with Prime Minister)	Begins: 1979 Jun 26	Ends: 1981 Oct 14	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 74
PREM19/522	Malta (Visits to UK by Dr Edward Fenech Adami, leader of Maltese opposition Nationalist Party, November 1979 and June 1981: meetings with Prime Minister)	Begins: 1979 Oct 12	Ends: 1981 Jun 1	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Confidential	Pages: 27
PREM19/523	Manpower (Special employment measures; industrial training; youth unemployment) (Part 2)	Begins: 1980 Oct 21	Ends: 1981 Jan 30	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Confidential	Pages: 152
PREM19/524	Manpower (Unemployment and young people; industrial training) (Part 3)	Begins: 1981 Feb 3	Ends: 1981 Mar 26	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Confidential	Pages: 57
PREM19/525	Manpower (Unemployment and young people; industrial training; Employment and Training Bill - Enterprise Zones; measures against unemployment) (Part 4)	Begins: 1981 Apr 3	Ends: 1981 Jul 10	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Confidential	Pages: 242
PREM19/526	Manpower (Measures against unemployment; youth training; Young Workers Scheme; unemployment and early retirement) (Part 5)	Begins: 1981 Jul 13	Ends: 1981 Oct 31	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 249
PREM19/527	Manpower (Housing policy and labour mobility: National Mobility Scheme)	Begins: 1980 Jul 7	Ends: 1981 Jul 23	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Confidential	Pages: 56
PREM19/528	Mexico (Visit to UK by Foreign Minister, Dr Jorge Castadena, March 1981: meeting with Prime Minister)	Begins: 1981 Jan 19	Ends: 1981 May 21	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Confidential	Pages: 24
PREM19/529	Middle East (Arms sales and military assistance to Middle Eastern countries) (Part 1)	Begins: 1979 Nov 6	Ends: 1981 Mar 31	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30	Any docs withheld? 2	Classification: Secret	Pages: 209
PREM19/530	Middle East (Situation in the Middle East) (Part 5)	Begins: 1980 Sep 1	Ends: 1981 Apr 30	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 370
PREM19/531	Middle East (Situation in the Middle East) (Part 6)	Begins: 1981 May 1	Ends: 1981 Sep 30	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 340
PREM19/532	Middle East (Situation in the Middle East) (Part 7)	Begins: 1981 Oct 1	Ends: 1981 Nov 3	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 178
PREM19/533	Middle East (Situation in the Middle East) (Part 8)	Begins: 1981 Nov 4	Ends: 1981 Dec 11	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 318
PREM19/534	Middle East (Arab ambassadors' dinner, July 1981: invitation declined by PM as PLO representative would be present)	Begins: 1981 Feb 23	Ends: 1981 Jul 10	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Confidential	Pages: 30
PREM19/535	Middle East (Prime Minister's visits to Kuwait and Bahrain, September 1981: meetings with Rulers and Ministers)	Begins: 1981 Apr 15	Ends: 1981 Nov 9	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Confidential	Pages: 151
PREM19/536	Ministers (Rules governing travel by Ministers and their families: charging for Royal Air Force aircraft) (Part 1)	Begins: 1979 May 4	Ends: 1981 Nov 16	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Confidential	Pages: 196
PREM19/537	National health (Doctors' and dentists' pay; report of Review Body; consultants' contracts) (Part 2)	Begins: 1979 Sep 25	Ends: 1981 May 15	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 162
PREM19/538	National health (Advisory Group on the future of health services and medical education in London)	Begins: 1980 Mar 12	Ends: 1981 Feb 2	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Confidential	Pages: 37
PREM19/539	Nationalised industries (Coal mines) (Part 2)	Begins: 1980 Jul 15	Ends: 1981 Mar 4	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 189
PREM19/540	Nationalised industries (Coal mines) (Part 3)	Begins: 1981 Mar 10	Ends: 1981 Jul 20	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 199
PREM19/541	Nationalised industries (Coal mines) (Part 4)	Begins: 1981 Jul 22	Ends: 1981 Nov 30	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 284
PREM19/542	Nationalised industries (Gas and electricity pricing policy; industrial energy pricing) (Part 3)	Begins: 1980 Oct 20	Ends: 1981 Mar 12	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 230
PREM19/543	Nationalised industries (Gas and electricity pricing policy; industrial energy pricing) (Part 4)	Begins: 1981 Mar 13	Ends: 1981 May 28	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Confidential	Pages: 107
PREM19/544	Nationalised industries (Gas and electricity pricing policy: industrial energy pricing; future of British Gas Corporation's appliance retailing activity) (Part 5)	Begins: 1981 Jun 5	Ends: 1981 Oct 12	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Confidential	Pages: 241
PREM19/545	Nationalised industries (Pay of Chairmen and Board members) (Part 1)	Begins: 1980 May 20	Ends: 1981 Dec 3	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 223
PREM19/546	Nationalised industries (Privatisation) (Part 3)	Begins: 1980 Oct 16	Ends: 1981 Feb 23	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Confidential	Pages: 146
PREM19/547	Nationalised industries (Privatisation) (Part 4)	Begins: 1981 Mar 3	Ends: 1981 Sep 18	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Confidential	Pages: 398
PREM19/548	Nationalised industries (Prospects for the steel industry; the Iron and Steel Bill; British Steel Corporation (BSC) corporate plan) (Part 8)	Begins: 1980 Dec 4	Ends: 1981 Feb 16	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Confidential	Pages: 155
PREM19/549	Nationalised industries (Prospects for the steel industry; British Steel Corporation (BSC) corporate plan; overlap between BSC and private sector; rationalisation of the UK engineering steel making facilities) (Part 9)	Begins: 1981 Feb 17	Ends: 1981 Apr 6	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Confidential	Pages: 245
PREM19/550	Nationalised industries (Prospects for the steel industry; British Steel Corporation (BSC) corporate plan; overlap between BSC and private sector; assistance to private sector steel firms) (Part 10)	Begins: 1981 Apr 7	Ends: 1981 Dec 14	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Confidential	Pages: 218
PREM19/551	Nepal (Visits to UK by King Birendra of Nepal, September 1979 and November 1980: calls on the Prime Minister)	Begins: 1979 Aug 15	Ends: 1981 Apr 24	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30	Any docs withheld? 3	Classification: Confidential	Pages: 141
PREM19/552	Netherlands (Prime Minister's visit to The Hague, February 1981; meeting with Prime Minister, Dries van Agt)	Begins: 1980 Dec 23	Ends: 1981 Feb 13	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 92
PREM19/553	Overseas Aid (Renegotiation of Lome Convention; closure of Tate and Lyle refinery in Liverpool; effect on African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) sugar suppliers) (Part 1)	Begins: 1979 May 31	Ends: 1981 Feb 27	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Confidential	Pages: 252
PREM19/554	Parliament (Representation of the People Bill; disqualification of prisoners from election to parliament)	Begins: 1981 May 14	Ends: 1981 Jul 31	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Confidential	Pages: 31
PREM19/555	Parliament (Legislative programme, 1980-1981 and 1981-1982) (Part 6)	Begins: 1980 Oct 28	Ends: 1981 Mar 31	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 196
PREM19/556	Parliament (Legislative programme, 1981-1982) (Part 7)	Begins: 1981 Apr 1	Ends: 1981 Jul 28	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 171
PREM19/557	Parliament (House of Commons procedure; outstanding recommendations of Select Committee on Procedure; disclosure of documents to Select Committees; review of work of Departmental Select Committees) (Part 4)	Begins: 1980 Jun 20	Ends: 1981 Sep 4	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Confidential	Pages: 296
PREM19/558	Parliament (Queen's speeches on prorogation and opening of Parliament; televising the State Opening of Parliament) (Part 3)	Begins: 1980 Nov 18	Ends: 1981 Oct 22	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30	Any docs withheld? 17	Classification: Secret	Pages: 191
PREM19/559	Poland (Internal situation; economic assistance to Poland) (Part 2)	Begins: 1980 Dec 1	Ends: 1981 Feb 27	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 225
PREM19/560	Poland (Internal situation; economic assistance to Poland) (Part 3)	Begins: 1981 Mar 2	Ends: 1981 Aug 12	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 293
PREM19/561	Poland (Internal situation; economic assistance to Poland; state of emergency - martial law, December 1981) (Part 4)	Begins: 1981 Aug 12	Ends: 1981 Dec 18	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 279
PREM19/562	Posts and telecommunications (Post Office: postal and telecommunications monopoly (possible reference to Monopolies and Mergers Commission); Post Office pay, pricing and finances; British Telecommunications Bill) (Part 2)	Begins: 1980 Jul 7	Ends: 1981 Feb 27	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 158
PREM19/563	Prime Minister (Meeting with Northern Group of Labour MPs regarding organisation of regional offices of Departments of Environment and Transport)	Begins: 1980 Dec 17	Ends: 1981 Jan 21	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Confidential	Pages: 21
PREM19/564	Prime Minister (Meeting with Gavin Strang MP to discuss redundancies at Bruntons of Musselburgh)	Begins: 1981 Feb 16	Ends: 1981 Mar 17	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Confidential	Pages: 14
PREM19/565	Prime Minister (Meeting with Jim Spicer MP on strategic importance of the Cape route; United Nations arms embargo against South Africa)	Begins: 1981 Feb 2	Ends: 1981 Mar 16	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Top Secret - Codeword	Pages: 28
PREM19/566	Prime Minister (Meeting with David Watkins MP to discuss closure of Consett steelworks)	Begins: 1981 Feb 12	Ends: 1981 Mar 13	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Confidential	Pages: 20
PREM19/567	Prime Minister (Meeting with Stephen Ross MP regarding closure of Elliott Turbomachinery Ltd in Cowes)	Begins: 1981 Apr 30	Ends: 1981 Jul 3	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Confidential	Pages: 28
PREM19/568	Prime Minister (Meeting with Harry Cowans MP regarding threatened closure of Vickers Ltd Elswick works)	Begins: 1981 May 20	Ends: 1981 Jul 1	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Confidential	Pages: 19

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