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 301 - 350 of 3727

Per page:

File name	File title	Begins	Ends	Release date	Classification	Pages
PREM19/301	National Health (Overspending by Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham Area Health Authority (AHA); removal of powers by Social Services Secretary; AHA resumption of powers following Court ruling)	Begins: 1979 Jul 31	Ends: 1980 Mar 3	Date of release: 2010 Dec 30	Classification: Confidential	Pages: 30
PREM19/302	Nationalised Industries (Coal mines) (Part 1)	Begins: 1979 Jun 27	Ends: 1980 Mar 17	Date of release: 2010 Dec 30	Classification: Confidential	Pages: 145
PREM19/303	Nationalised Industries (Gas and electricity prices; financial targets and energy pricing policy) (Part 1)	Begins: 1979 Sep 28	Ends: 1980 Mar 21	Date of release: 2010 Dec 30	Classification: Confidential	Pages: 231
PREM19/304	Nationalised Industries (Gas and electricity prices; financial targets and energy pricing policy) (Part 2)	Begins: 1979 Mar 26	Ends: 1980 Oct 2	Date of release: 2010 Dec 30	Classification: Secret	Pages: 164
PREM19/305	Nationalised Industries (Privatisation) (Part 1)	Begins: 1979 May 9	Ends: 1980 Feb 18	Date of release: 2010 Dec 30	Classification: Confidential	Pages: 97
PREM19/306	Nationalised Industries (Privatisation) (Part 2)	Begins: 1980 Feb 21	Ends: 1980 Oct 17	Date of release: 2010 Dec 30	Classification: Confidential	Pages: 150
PREM19/307	Nationalised Industries (British Steel Corporation; industrial action by steel unions; contingency planning) (Part 2)	Begins: 1979 Nov 28	Ends: 1980 Jan 7	Date of release: 2010 Dec 30	Classification: Confidential	Pages: 258
PREM19/308	Nationalised Industries (British Steel Corporation; industrial action by steel unions; contingency planning) (Part 3)	Begins: 1980 Jan 8	Ends: 1980 Jan 22	Date of release: 2010 Dec 30	Classification: Secret	Pages: 319
PREM19/309	Nationalised Industries (British Steel Corporation; industrial action by steel unions; contingency planning) (Part 4)	Begins: 1980 Jan 22	Ends: 1980 Feb 15	Date of release: 2010 Dec 30	Classification: Secret	Pages: 207
PREM19/310	Nationalised Industries (British Steel Corporation; industrial action by steel unions; pay negotiations; contingency planning) (Part 5)	Begins: 1980 Feb 15	Ends: 1980 Mar 12	Date of release: 2010 Dec 30	Classification: Secret	Pages: 226
PREM19/311	Nationalised Industries (British Steel Corporation (BSC); industrial action by steel unions; Lord Lever’s inquiry and recommendations for settlement accepted by BSC and Steel Union) (Part 6)	Begins: 1980 Mar 12	Ends: 1980 Jul 30	Date of release: 2010 Dec 30	Classification: Secret	Pages: 228
PREM19/312	Nationalised Industries (British Steel Corporation (BSC); BSC finances and future shape under new chairman; problems of private sector steel firms) (Part 7)	Begins: 1980 Sep 12	Ends: 1980 Nov 27	Date of release: 2010 Dec 30	Classification: Secret	Pages: 162
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

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