Archive

1983 Dec 13 - 1985 Jun 27
Prime Ministerial Private Office files

PREM19/1440
Defence (Procurement of weapon systems: national defence technological capabilities; rising cost of defence equipment; participation in European Fighter Aircraft project) (Part 2)

Document type: File list item
Source: TNA, PREM19 series
Release date: 2014 Dec 30
Classification: Secret
Page count: 314
Any docs withheld?

PREM19/1440 - download whole file (PDF, 55.56 MB)

Selections from this file

Showing items 1 - 20 of 49

Per page:
Date Valuesort descending Title
85 Jun 27 Thu Defence: Heseltine PS letter to No.10 ("European Fighter Aircraft") [Heseltine requests MT to raise issue bilaterally with Kohl, Mitterrand, Craxi and González: objectives; lines to take; background note] [declassified Dec 2014]
85 Jun 24 Mon Defence: Heseltine PS letter to Howe PS ("European Fighter Aircraft") [comments on draft telegram to partner countries' ambassadors, arguing case for proceeding without France] [declassified Dec 2014]
85 Jun 18 Tue Defence: Heseltine minute to MT ("European Fighter Aircraft") [report on outcome of recent meetings of partners countries' Defence Ministers] [declassified Dec 2014]
85 Jun 3 Mon Defence: Heseltine letter to Tebbit (Defence procurement: disclosure requirements and competitive bids) [BAe & the contract for Rapier missiles] [declassified Dec 2014]
85 May 17 Fri Defence: Heseltine minute to MT ("European Fighter Aircraft") [Heseltine's views on recent negotiations between prospective partner countries] [declassified Dec 2014]
85 May 3 Fri Defence: No.10 Policy Unit minute to MT ("European Fighter Aircraft") [comments on Heseltine/Tebbit memorandum] [declassified Dec 2014]
85 May 3 Fri Defence: Cabinet Office briefing for MT ("European Fighter Aircraft") [background; UK conditions for proceeding with partnership project; alternative possibilities] [declassified Dec 2014]
85 Apr 30 Tue Defence: No.10 record of conversation (MT, Lawson, Howe, Tebbit, Heseltine, Rees) ["European Fighter Aircraft"; plus closer circulation record on the politics of the decision] [declassified Dec 2014]
85 Apr 26 Fri Defence: No.10 briefing for MT ("European Fighter Aircraft") ["Aside from Trident this is the biggest procurement decision the Government will have taken"; key issues] [declassified Dec 2014]
85 Apr 26 Fri Defence: No.10 Policy Unit briefing for MT ("European Fighter Aircraft") [Heseltine proposal: analysis & counter-arguments; alternative options] [declassified Dec 2014]
85 Apr 15 Mon Defence: Heseltine minute to MT ("European Fighter Aircraft") [key issues, for Cabinet meeting on 25 April] [declassified Dec 2014]
85 Apr 4 Thu Defence: MT letter to Chair of United Technologies Corporation (RAF Basic Trainer Aircraft) [background to Government's decision to place the order with Short Brothers, Belfast] [declassified Dec 2014]
85 Apr 2 Tue Defence: Rees minute to MT ("European Fighter Aircraft (EFA)") [consideration of UK's defence needs, and relative merits of alternative options] [declassified Dec 2014]
85 Mar 21 Thu Defence: Heseltine PS letter to No.10 ("A New Basic Trainer for the RAF") [text of Heseltine statement to Parliament on successful bid] [declassified Dec 2014]
85 Mar 20 Wed Defence: Tebbit PS letter to Heseltine PS ("European Fighter Aircraft") ["a short summary list of some of the issues that may arise"] [declassified Dec 2014]
85 Mar 20 Wed Defence: Tebbit PS letter to Heseltine PS (new Basic Trainer for the RAF) [pitch for Swiss firm/BAe-produced PC9] [declassified Dec 2014]
85 Mar 20 Wed Defence: No.10 Policy Unit briefing for MT ("A New Basic Trainer for the RAF") [possible arguments against Heseltine decision to award contract to Shorts; advice to endorse decision; date for privatising Shorts] [declassified Dec 2014]
85 Mar 20 Wed Defence: Cabinet Office briefing for MT ("A New Basic Trainer for the Royal Air Force") [Heseltine recommendation to award contract to Shorts vs Younger preference for BAe] [declassified Dec 2014]
85 Mar 19 Tue Defence: Heseltine minute to MT ("A New Basic Trainer for the Royal Air Force") [Shorts vs BAe: notification of reduction in cost of BAe bid; recommendation still to accept Shorts bid] [declassified Dec 2014]
85 Mar 18 Mon Defence: Heseltine letter to Tebbit ("European Fighter Aircraft") ["Industrial factors, particularly... [BAe's] position relative to the French, will play a large part in determining the way forward"] [declassified Dec 2014]