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1987 Feb 2 - 1989 Jun 12
Prime Ministerial Private Office files

PREM19/2583
Aerospace (Westland Helicopters) (Part 7)

Source: TNA, PREM19 series
Release date: 2016 Dec 30
Classification: Secret
Page count: 309

PREM19/2583 - download whole file (PDF, 147.58 MB)

Selections from this file

Showing items 41 - 59 of 59

Date Value Title
88 Nov 9 We Major Aerospace: Young letter to Younger ("Future Requirements for Support Helicopters") [disappointed at review of EH101 order, damaging impact on Westland's marketing of the helicopter to overseas customers] [declassified Dec 2016]
89 Apr 6 Th Minor Aerospace: No.10 minute to Home Office ("Home Secretary's Appearance on Question Time") [briefings on Westland, invitation to Queen to visit Soviet Union] [declassified Dec 2016]
89 Apr 6 Th Major Aerospace: Defence Committee clerk minute ("Next Meeting of the Committee") [discussion of Brittan's public comments on disclosure of Solicitor General's advice] [declassified Dec 2016]
89 Apr 6 Th Major Aerospace: Whitelaw PS letter to Brittan (Westland) [comments on disclosure of Solicitor General's advice - briefing on "current state of play"] [declassified Dec 2016]
89 Apr 6 Th Major Aerospace: Butler minute to Whitelaw ("Westland") [C4 documentary: Brittan's comments on disclosure of Solicitor General's advice] [declassified Dec 2016]
89 Apr 7 Fr Major Aerospace: No.10 minute for MT ("Mr. Spearing's PQ to the Lord President") [attempts to suggest Brittan's references to Powell, Ingham in C4 documentary were 'new' information] [declassified Dec 2016]
89 Apr 10 Mo Major Aerospace: Defence Commitee Order of Business (12 April 1989 meeting) [Westland, Hungary, nuclear submarines] [declassified Dec 2016]
89 Apr 12 We Major Aerospace: No.10 minute to Butler ("Westland: Defence Committee") [government's "rather perilous" position on committee; MPs using parliamentary privilege to attack civil servants] [declassified Dec 2016]
89 Apr 12 We Major Aerospace: No.10 note for the record ("Wesland: Defence Select Committee") [Defence Committee debated re-opening inquiry - Barney Hayhoe supporting it, following Brittan's comments on disclosure of Solicitor General's advice] [declassified Dec 2016]
89 Apr 12 We Major Aerospace: Clerk of the House of Commons minute to Waddington ("Witnesses before the Defence Committee") [actions available if invitations declined by Brittan, Armstrong] [declassified Dec 2016]
89 Apr 13 Th Major Aerospace: Turnbull minute for Powell ("Defence Committee: Westland") [Chief Clerk provided briefing so tendentious government MPs on committee in difficult position arguing against re-opening inquiry; Chief Whip seeks counter-briefing - draft attached] [declassified Dec 2016]
89 Apr 13 Th Major Aerospace: Cabinet Office minute to No.10 ("Select Committees: Power to Send for Persons") [Brittan, Armstrong could probably avoid attendance on "procedural grounds", but advises against; rather they should remind committees of "extensive evidence" given in 1986 and say they have nothing to add] [declassified Dec 2016]
89 Apr 14 Fr Major Aerospace: No.10 minute for MT ("Westland") [Defence Committee: "loyal" government members will argue "nothing new has emerged"] [declassified Dec 2016]
89 Apr 14 Fr Major Aerospace: Butler minute to No.10 ("Westland: Defence Committee") [conversation with committee chairman about re-opening of Westland inquiry; Speaker's view that nothing could be done to prevent MPs making critical remarks about civil servants under privilege] [declassified Dec 2016]
89 Apr 19 We Major Aerospace: No.10 minute for MT ("Westland") [Defence Committee to ask Brittan "if he stood by his remarks to see if there is a basis for reopening the inquiry"] [declassified Dec 2016]
89 May 10 We Major Aerospace: No.10 note for the record ("Select Committee on Defence: Westland") [only one government MP still pursuing Brittan issue; chairman thinks it best not to force the issue in the hope of bringing him round] [declassified Dec 2016]
89 Jun 1 Th Major Aerospace: Brittan draft letter to Clerk of House of Commons Defence Committee (Westland) [repeats and confirms MT's 27 Jan 1986 statement on disclosure of Solicitor General's advice; No.10's analysis of the draft] [declassified Dec 2016]
89 Jun 7 We Major Defence: Younger PS minute to Charles Powell ("Future Requirement for Support Helicopters") [delaying recommendation on choice of helicopter; Powell comment: "I sense an atmosphere of doom over this project"] [declassified Dec 2016]
89 Jun 12 Mo Minor Defence: Major PS letter to Younger PS ("Future Requirements for Support Helicopters") [accepts decision will be further delayed until spring 1990] [declassified Dec 2016]