Archive

Large scale document archive

1985 Apr 30 - 1985 Dec 10
Prime Ministerial Private Office files

PREM19/1415
Aerospace (Westland Helicopters) (Part 1A)

Source: TNA, PREM19 series
Release date: 2014 Dec 30
Classification: Secret
Page count: 205
Themes: Privatized & state industries

PREM19/1415 - download whole file (PDF, 35.2 MB)

Selections from this file

Showing items 1 - 20 of 42

Date Value Title
85 Apr 30 Tu Major Westland: Heseltine minute for MT (“Westland Helicopters”) [company difficulties; Bristow bid] [declassified Dec 2014]
85 Apr 30 Tu Major Westland: Tebbit minute for MT (“Westland Helicopters”) [less sanguine than Heseltine] [declassified Dec 2014]
85 Jun 8 Sa Minor Westland: Zambian President Kaunda letter to MT (Westland helicopters;) [asks for 12, to be financed wholly by British aid: MT hopes it can be done “very quickly”] [declassified Dec 2014]
85 Jun 13 Th Major Westland: Tebbit letter to Heseltine (“Westlands ”) [Bristow may drop bid unless government helps more] [declassified Dec 2014]
85 Jun 17 Mo Major Westland: DTI letter to No.10 (“Westland”) [refusing Bristow terms, but suggests alternative to avoid company collapse, seeking urgent No.10 approval] [declassified Dec 2014]
85 Jun 18 Tu Major Westland: Treasury letter to DTI (“Westland”) [protest at DTI failure to warn Treasury in time for crisis meeting] [declassified Dec 2014]
85 Jun 18 Tu Major Westland: Tebbit letter to Westland chairman (DTI conversations with Bristow) [offers made to Bristow; launch aid issue] [declassified Dec 2014]
85 Jun 18 Tu Key Westland: No.10 record of conversation (‘Westland’) [late night crisis meeting] [declassified Dec 2014]
85 Jun 18 Tu Major Westland: DTI letter to No.10 (‘Westland’) [developments since ministerial meeting] [declassified Dec 2014]
85 Jun 19 We Major Westland: DTI letter to No.10 (‘Westlands’) [Bristow withdrawing bid] [declassified Dec 2014]
85 Jun 19 We Key Westland: No.10 record of conversation (‘Westland’) [if Bristow withdraws, encourage creditors to instal new management] [declassified Dec 2014]
85 Jun 20 Th Major Westland: ?No.10 PMQ briefing (Westland) [situation now Bristow bid withdrawn; line to take] [declassified Dec 2014]
85 Jul 1 Mo Major Westland: Tebbit letter to Heseltine (‘Westland’) [approach from US group; does not find American ownership welcome, but may be no alternative] [declassified Dec 2014]
85 Jul 4 Th Major Westland: Heseltine letter to Tebbit (‘Westlands’) [“Like you I do not find the prospect of foreign ownership of Westland welcome”, but alternatives to receivership still exist] [declassified Dec 2014]
85 Jul 5 Fr Major Westland: No.10 Policy Unit minute for MT (‘Westlands’) [treat as a commercial issue, in which the Government need not become involved] [declassified Dec 2014]
85 Jul 8 Mo Major Westland: No.10 letter to DTI (Westland) [MT notes case against Marmon takeover, but “believes that a different American offer would have to be judged on its merits”] [declassified Dec 2014]
85 Jul 22 Mo Major Westland: MT letter to Zambian President Kaunda (Westland) [rejects his proposal to use aid funds to sell W30 helicopters to Zambia] [declassified Dec 2014]
85 Oct 4 Fr Major Westland: Brittan minute for MT (‘Westland’) [examine European solution urgently; do not rule out Sikorsky if no alternative] [declassified Dec 2014]
85 Oct 4 Fr Major Westland: Charles Powell minute for MT (‘Westlands’) [Heseltine organised meeting of European NADs] [declassified Dec 2014]
85 Oct 4 Fr Major Westland: Charles Powell minute for MT (‘Westland’) [suggests meeting chaired by Chancellor] [declassified Dec 2014]