Economy: Alan Walters diary (budget) [All of committee thought Walters scheme excellent, except Jim Prior and Peter Walker][released 2012]

Document type:	Declassified documents
Source:	Walters MSS (Churchill Archives Centre): WTRS3/1/1
Editorial comments:	Read other entries from this diary. View all Walters documents. The original diary can be studied here
Importance ranking:	Major
Word count:	125
Themes:	Monetary policy

Wednesday 15th July 1981

E at commons 8.15-11.00 on Prior package. All E (except JP [Jim Prior] and Walker) thought my scheme splendid or brilliant or imaginative etc. PM, KJ [Keith Joseph] etc. emphasised real jobs.

Biffen - YOP [Youth Opportunities Programme] not a success. Cosmetic. GH [SirGeoffrey Howe] and Leon [Leon Brittan] very much saw it as a first PESC bid. JP tried frantically to get a quick (because of a leak) £1.5 Bn - no support at all. He appealed for a U-turn on public spending. E agreed to his £90m or so for 1981-2 and £130m for 1982/3 for YOP, apprenticeships etc. But expansion to COSY [sic: possibly acronym for Comprehensive Scheme for Youth] and my scheme etc. remitted to Ministerial committee.