Thursday 25th February 1982
PM apparently accepted stamp duty rather than mortgage interest rate relief. Adamant on gas prices.
Saw KJ [Keith Joseph] to say that JH [John Hoskyns] would upset my work arrangements.
E cttee - Thames Barrage - Direct Broadcasting by Satellite - Billions in high tech - but only BBC can take first two channels.
Trade Policy - very depressing discussion export subsidies all go to large fine (GEC) and very large up to 30% or so - but no investigation and no principles.
Biffen said pragmatic way is best.
Import barrier - dirty tricks by French; we should emulate to bring down their barriers. Only Norman Tebbitt [sic] showed any balance - “we have an enormous surplus” and depend on trade.
All bloody covert protectionists
Just heard that John Sparrow is to be chief of CPRS - a good appointment, but why did not Clive [Clive Whitmore] tell me.
PM - asked me about budget [?PSBR] not too bad but still somewhat high - I complained about income tax being residual - looks like only 14% on thresholds.
JH sees PM to settle matters