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 401 - 450 of 3727

Per page:

File name	File title	Begins	Ends	Release date	Any docs withheld?	Classification	Pages
PREM19/401	Civil service (Pay and pensions: public sector pay policy; Civil Service pay dispute; industrial action; proposal for independent inquiry) (Part 4)	Begins: 1981 Apr 16	Ends: 1981 May 18	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 252
PREM19/402	Civil service (Pay and pensions: public sector pay policy; Civil Service pay dispute; industrial action; revised terms of reference for proposed independent inquiry) (Part 5)	Begins: 1981 May 19	Ends: 1981 Jun 8	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 189
PREM19/403	Civil service (Pay and pensions: public sector pay policy; Civil Service pay dispute; industrial action; membership of independent inquiry;) (Part 6)	Begins: 1981 Jun 9	Ends: 1981 Jul 9	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 235
PREM19/404	Civil service (Pay and pensions: public sector pay policy; Civil Service pay dispute; industrial action; establishment of independent inquiry) (Part 7)	Begins: 1981 Jul 10	Ends: 1981 Nov 5	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 347
PREM19/405	Civil service (Cynon Valley Borough Council dispute with Welsh Office over allocation of funds for highway maintenance)	Begins: 1981 Feb 9	Ends: 1981 Jun 10	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Confidential	Pages: 24
PREM19/406	Civil service (Annual scrutiny of departmental running costs) (Part 1)	Begins: 1980 Feb 8	Ends: 1981 Jul 14	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Confidential	Pages: 288
PREM19/407	Civil service (Pay of professional, technological and scientific grades: possibility of industrial action; review of Scientific Civil Service)	Begins: 1979 Jun 15	Ends: 1981 Jul 9	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 282
PREM19/408	Civil service (Long term management and manpower policy; Sir Derek Rayner's recommendations for reforms; Civil Service numbers and costs; performance related pay) (Part 7)	Begins: 1980 Nov 18	Ends: 1981 Mar 6	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 224
PREM19/409	Civil service (Long term management and manpower policy; Sir Derek Rayner's recommendations for reforms; Civil Service numbers and costs; chain of command review; efficiency) (Part 8)	Begins: 1981 Mar 9	Ends: 1981 Sep 28	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Confidential	Pages: 288
PREM19/410	Commonwealth (Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Melbourne, September-October 1981: procedure; attendance; agenda) (Part 3)	Begins: 1981 May 19	Ends: 1981 Sep 14	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 200
PREM19/411	Defence (Sale of tanks to Jordan; future tank policy; future of Vickers Ltd Elswick works)	Begins: 1979 May 31	Ends: 1981 Apr 1	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 159
PREM19/412	Defence (Modernisation of Theatre Nuclear Forces (TNF) in Europe; proposed basing of United States Ground Launched Cruise Missiles (GLCM) in the UK) (Part 2)	Begins: 1979 Dec 3	Ends: 1981 Mar 10	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Top Secret	Pages: 106
PREM19/413	Defence (Defence sales) (Part 1)	Begins: 1980 Sep 2	Ends: 1981 Dec 15	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Confidential	Pages: 176
PREM19/414	Defence (Defence budget) (Part 4)	Begins: 1980 Oct 17	Ends: 1981 Mar 6	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 240
PREM19/415	Defence (Defence budget) (Part 5)	Begins: 1981 Mar 11	Ends: 1981 May 17	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 397
PREM19/416	Defence (Defence budget) (Part 6)	Begins: 1981 May 18	Ends: 1981 Jun 30	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 227
PREM19/417	Defence (UK Strategic Nuclear Deterrent) (Part 3)	Begins: 1980 Jun 10	Ends: 1981 Nov 12	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Top Secret	Pages: 276
PREM19/418	Economic policy (Public Spending) (Part 13)	Begins: 1980 Nov 25	Ends: 1981 Feb 16	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Confidential	Pages: 575
PREM19/419	Economic policy (Public Spending) (Part 14)	Begins: 1981 Feb 17	Ends: 1981 Sep 16	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 173
PREM19/420	Economic policy (Public Spending) (Part 15)	Begins: 1981 Oct 9	Ends: 1981 Oct 23	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 166
PREM19/421	Economic policy (Public Spending) (Part 16)	Begins: 1981 Oct 26	Ends: 1981 Nov 12	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 99
PREM19/422	Economic policy (Public Spending) (Part 17)	Begins: 1981 Nov 13	Ends: 1981 Dec 8	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 229
PREM19/423	Economic policy (Strategy) (Part 8)	Begins: 1981 Jan 2	Ends: 1981 Jun 10	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 256
PREM19/424	Economic policy (Strategy) (Part 9)	Begins: 1981 Jun 11	Ends: 1981 Oct 9	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 272
PREM19/425	Economic policy (Strategy) (Part 10)	Begins: 1981 Oct 12	Ends: 1981 Dec 3	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 169
PREM19/426	Economic policy (Top Salaries Review Body (TSRB): future role; resignation of Lord Boyle of Handsworth as chairman; appointment of Lord Plowden)	Begins: 1980 Jun 25	Ends: 1981 Mar 4	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Confidential	Pages: 96
PREM19/427	Economic policy (Policy towards the pay review bodies: Top Salaries Review Body (TSRB), Armed Forces Pay Review Body (AFPRB), Doctors and Dentists Review Body (DDRB)) (Part 2)	Begins: 1980 Jul 1	Ends: 1981 Jan 30	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 161
PREM19/428	Economic policy (Policy towards the pay review bodies: Top Salaries Review Body (TSRB), Armed Forces Pay Review Body (AFPRB), Doctors and Dentists Review Body (DDRB)) (Part 3)	Begins: 1981 Feb 2	Ends: 1981 Nov 9	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 175
PREM19/429	Economic policy (Meetings of National Economic Development Council (NEDC); ministerial membership; Prime Minister's attendance) (Part 2)	Begins: 1979 Dec 14	Ends: 1981 Dec 29	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Confidential	Pages: 187
PREM19/430	Economic policy (Inland Revenue computer project: computerisation of PAYE; future of International Computers Limited (ICL))	Begins: 1979 Dec 4	Ends: 1981 Mar 9	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 241
PREM19/431	Economic policy (Policy towards small firms) (Part 2)	Begins: 1980 Jul 8	Ends: 1981 Apr 7	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 233
PREM19/432	Economic policy (Standing Commission on Pay Comparability; abolition of the Commission; future of Pay Review Bodies) (Part 3)	Begins: 1980 Jul 4	Ends: 1981 Aug 5	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Confidential	Pages: 117
PREM19/433	Economic policy (Inquiry into Value of Pensions (chairman: Sir Bernard Scott); index linked public sector pensions) (Part 2)	Begins: 1980 Nov 28	Ends: 1981 Jun 4	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Confidential	Pages: 246
PREM19/434	Economic policy (Correspondence with Armand Hammer, chairman of Occidental Petroleum; meetings with Prime Minister; proposals for a polyethylene plant in Scotland; export licence for Leicester Codex)	Begins: 1980 Sep 2	Ends: 1981 Aug 4	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Confidential	Pages: 157
PREM19/435	Economic policy (Brandt Commission; relations with developing countries; North/South Dialogue; Cancun Summit, Mexico) (Part 2)	Begins: 1980 Nov 12	Ends: 1981 Sep 24	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Confidential	Pages: 263
PREM19/436	Economic policy (Correspondence from John Sparrow on financial and economic policy; meetings with Prime Minister)	Begins: 1979 May 25	Ends: 1982 Apr 16	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Unclassified	Pages: 170
PREM19/437	Economic policy (Exchange rate; exchange control policy; inflow controls) (Part 1)	Begins: 1979 May 4	Ends: 1981 Oct 23	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 267
PREM19/438	Economic policy (Budget) (Part 4)	Begins: 1980 Oct 31	Ends: 1981 Feb 17	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 244
PREM19/439	Economic policy (Budget) (Part 5)	Begins: 1981 Feb 18	Ends: 1981 Jul 10	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 227
PREM19/440	Economic policy (Domestic monetary policy) (Part 7)	Begins: 1980 Dec 1	Ends: 1981 Mar 12	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 244
PREM19/441	Economic policy (Domestic monetary policy) (Part 8)	Begins: 1981 Mar 18	Ends: 1981 Aug 17	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 337
PREM19/442	Economic policy (Public sector pay policy; arbitration arrangements; Treasury monitoring reports) (Part 3)	Begins: 1980 Oct 31	Ends: 1981 Mar 11	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Confidential	Pages: 186
PREM19/443	Economic policy (Public sector pay policy; arbitration arrangements; Treasury monitoring reports) (Part 4)	Begins: 1981 Mar 16	Ends: 1981 Aug 6	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Confidential	Pages: 197
PREM19/444	Economic policy (Disposal of public sector assets) (Part 4)	Begins: 1980 Oct 31	Ends: 1981 Oct 21	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 255
PREM19/445	Economic policy (G7 Summit - Ottawa) (Part 6) [Part 5 of this file has been destroyed]	Begins: 1981 Feb 2	Ends: 1981 Jul 15	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 225
PREM19/446	Economic policy (G7 Summit - Ottawa) (Part 7)	Begins: 1981 Jul 16	Ends: 1981 Nov 10	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Confidential	Pages: 252
PREM19/447	Economic policy (Report by Central Policy Review Staff (CPRS) on pay: ministerial consideration)	Begins: 1981 Jun 19	Ends: 1981 Sep 22	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 106
PREM19/448	Economic policy (Economic effects of industrial action: machinery of government aspects)	Begins: 1981 Feb 25	Ends: 1981 Mar 25	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 18
PREM19/449	Economic policy (Operation Enterprise campaign: organisation of government to assist small firms)	Begins: 1981 Mar 3	Ends: 1981 Mar 9	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30		Classification: Secret	Pages: 18
PREM19/450	Egypt (Visit to UK by President Sadat, August 1981: meeting with Prime Minister)	Begins: 1981 Feb 25	Ends: 1981 Aug 10	Date of release: 2011 Dec 30	Any docs withheld? 2	Classification: Secret	Pages: 107

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