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1982 Aug 6 - 1984 Jan 18
Prime Ministerial Private Office files

PREM19/1258
Government machinery (Appointment of Sir Anthony Parsons and Roger Jackling as advisers to Prime Minister on foreign affairs and defence policy respectively; improvements to joint intelligence machinery post Falklands Conflict)

Source: TNA, PREM19 series
Release date: 2014 Jan 3
Classification: Secret
Page count: 64
Themes: Foreign policy - theory and process, Defence (general), Defence (Falklands), Security services & intelligence, British Constitution (general discussions), Executive, Executive (appointments), Conservatism, Leadership

PREM19/1258 - download whole file (PDF, 11.25 MB)

Selections from this file

Showing items 1 - 19 of 19

Date Value Title
82 Aug 6 Fr Major Government machinery: Cabinet Office minute to MT (Foreign Policy Unit) [cover note for attached proposals, flagging up Pym's disquiet] [declassified Jan 2014]
82 Aug 9 Mo Major Government machinery: Cabinet Office minute to MT (changes in the working of the Joint Intelligence Committee) [proposals] [declassified Jan 2014]
82 Aug 25 We Major Government machinery: Cabinet Office minute to No.10 ('New Standard' enquiry about advisory group to the Prime Minister) ["no comment"] [declassified Jan 2014]
82 Sep 8 We Major Government machinery: No.10 record of conversation (MT, Pym) [Pym "strongly against" proposed Foreign Affairs Unit based in No.10] [declassified Jan 2014]
82 Oct 8 Fr Major Government machinery: Robin Butler minute to MT ("Foreign Affairs Unit") [Pym request for meeting with MT to discuss "his continued strong opposition"] [declassified Jan 2014]
82 Oct 15 Fr Major Government machinery: No.10 letter to Pym PS (role of Alan Walters on economic affairs) [clarification of role in context of Parsons' imminent appointment as MT's Adviser on Foreign Affairs] [declassified Jan 2014]
82 Oct 15 Fr Key Government machinery: No.10 record of conversation (MT, Pym) [Pym & MT at odds over her intention to have a dedicated adviser on foreign, defence & intelligence matters, based in No.10] [declassified Jan 2014]
82 Oct 19 Tu Major Government machinery: No.10 record of conversation (MT, Pym) [appointment of Parsons as MT's Foreign Affairs Adviser; Pym "concerned that... Parsons should act as an adviser rather than as an operator in his own right"] [declassified Jan 2014]
82 Oct 20 We Major Government machinery: No.10 record of conversation (MT, Pym) [MT refuses Pym request to delay announcement of Parsons as her Foreign Affairs Adviser in light of his concerns about media perceiving appointment as "a slap in the face for himself and the Foreign Office"] [declassified Jan 2014]
82 Oct 21 Th Major Government machinery: Cabinet Office minute to MT (changes to the intelligence organisation) [proposals] [declassified Jan 2014]
82 Oct 22 Fr Major Government machinery: No.10 briefing for MT ("Talk with Sir Anthony Parsons at Chequers on Saturday 23rd October") [Foreign Affairs Adviser: terms of appointment; function; coverage & support; start date & announcement] [declassified Jan 2014]
82 Nov 8 Mo Major Government machinery: Cabinet Office minute to No.10 ("Adviser on defense affairs") [candidates] [declassified Jan 2014]
82 Nov 8 Mo Major Government machinery: Cabinet Office minute to No.10 (appointment of Sir Anthony Parsons as Prime Minister's Foreign Affairs Adviser) [press release] [declassified Jan 2014]
82 Nov 8 Mo Major Government machinery: Cabinet Office minute to No.10 (Prime Minister's access to the intelligence apparatus) [proposals] [declassified Jan 2014]
82 Nov 25 Th Major Government machinery: Robin Butler minute to Sir Antony Acland (Sir Anthony Parsons: Special Adviser duties: request to give evidence to Foreign Affairs Committee) [MT "does not think it appropriate"] [declassified Jan 2014]
82 Nov 26 Fr Major Government machinery: John Coles minute to MT (Sir Anthony Parsons) [agreement on regular working days as MT adviser] [declassified Jan 2014]
83 Jun 15 We Major Government machinery: Robin Butler minute to Stevens ("Special Advisers") [re-engagement of Walters, Parsons, Mount, Shipley & Monckton] [declassified Jan 2014]
83 Sep 14 We Major Government machinery: Robin Butler minute to Ingham ("David Hobson") [appointment to Policy Unit] [declassified Jan 2014]
84 Jan 18 We Major Government machinery: Sir Percy Cradock minute to Robin Butler ('Times' article on role of the Prime Minister's Adviser on Foreign Affairs) [definition of role] [declassified Jan 2014]