Latest Cabinet Office files

Today we have released Cabinet Office files covering Tony Blair’s Labour administration (PREM 49).

Also included are files from the CAB 301 series, consisting of miscellaneous unregistered papers originating in the Private Office of the Cabinet Secretary.

Some of the issues in the files include:

  • Home affairs
  • Regional policy
  • Relations with other countries
  • Meetings with foreign leaders and governments

The National Archives has digitised over 70 files from this release and a selection of these are available to download and view below. Owing to the large size of these files, we recommend that you save them to your desktop before opening them. Please right click on the links and select the ‘save’ option.

Some examples of files released:

PREM 49/1302

EUROPEAN POLICY. Home affairs and social justice: part 4

30 September 1999 – 19 June 2000

This file contains correspondence on European policy, such as the creation of Eurojust and of a European Public Prosecutor, the proposal from the European Commission to replace the 1968 Brussels Convention on jurisdiction, and the recognition and enforcement of judgements in civil and commercial matters.

PREM 49/1302

 

PREM 49/1323

FISHING. European Union Common Fisheries Policy: UK fishing industry; part 3

02 June 1999 – 08 December 2000

This file is concerned with the European Union Common Fisheries Policy and the UK fishing industry.

PREM 49/1323

 

PREM 49/1380

HOME AFFAIRS. Animal welfare matters: part 2

03 March 1999 – 21 July 2000

This file contains papers on the publication of statistics on scientific procedures on living animals in 1999 and discussions regarding the pilot Pet Travel Scheme.

PREM 49/1380

 

PREM 49/1408

HOME AFFAIRS. Homosexual rights in Great Britain and Europe; part 2

01 April 1999 – 04 April 2000

This file is mainly concerned with the Government’s attempt to repeal Section 28 as part of the Local Government Act 2000, which was defeated in the House of Lords.

PREM 49/1408

 

PREM 49/1409

HOME AFFAIRS. Hunting policy: part 3

08 October 1999 – 08 August 2000

This file contains correspondence relating to the Government Inquiry into Hunting with Dogs in England and Wales, the 1999 statement on hunting, briefing notes for Question Time, and notes on foxhunting on the Defence estates.

PREM 49/1409

 

PREM 49/1412

HOME AFFAIRS. Immigration rules: part 11

07 March 2000 – 06 April 2000

This file includes correspondence about operational and policy issues relating to asylum, and ‘getting on top’ of what is described as ‘the asylum problem.’

PREM 49/1412

 

PREM 49/1413

HOME AFFAIRS. Immigration rules: part 12

07 April 2000 – 24 June 2000

This file includes the Home Office and Lord Chancellor’s Department Joint Plan for Asylum, which is intended to provide a clear framework for the effective management of the system.

PREM 49/1413

 

PREM 49/1415

HOME AFFAIRS. Immigration rules: part 14

21 September 2000 – 04 December 2000

This file includes further correspondence about operational and policy issues relating to asylum.

PREM 49/1415

 

PREM 49/1495

MINISTERS. Ministers’ conduct: part 11

02 September 1999 – 07 February 2000

The majority of this file is concerned with recommendations made by the Committee on Standards in Public Life, chaired by Lord Neill.

PREM 49/1495

 

PREM 49/1496

MINISTERS. Ministers’ conduct: part 12

09 February 2000 – 09 June 2000

This file is mainly concerned with the conduct of the Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, and the possibility of a conflict of interest owing to his links with the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) Union.

PREM 49/1496

 

PREM 49/1538

PARLIAMENT. Prime Minister’s Questions in the House of Commons: part 2

15 October 1999 – 10 May 2000

This file relates to briefings for Prime Minister’s Questions and discussions about how to improve the Prime Minister’s performance.

PREM 49/1538

 

PREM 49/1677

TREASURY. The City and finance: part 2

02 November 1998 – 08 May 2000

Includes correspondence on productivity and the capital markets, the Edwards Review of Financial Regulation in the Crown Dependencies and the insolvency bill. The pursuit and seizure of the proceeds of financial crimes and the Financial Services and Market Bill are also included.

PREM 49/1677

 

CAB 301/854

Sir William Walton

02 February 1978 – 21 April 1982

This file is concerned with assistance given by the Home Office to grant a licence to allow for the exportation of a particular drug from Britain to Italy for the use of Sir William Walton.

CAB 301/854

 

CAB 301/860

Private Eye Articles

15 February 1979 – 20 February 1979

This file concerns a Private Eye article about Roy Hattersley, Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection.

CAB 301/860

 

CAB 301/861

Allegations concerning a possible coup in 1968

30 March 1981 – 16 October 1981

This file is concerned with reports that a possible ‘coup’ was discussed between Lord Mountbatten, Cecil King, and Lord Cudlipp in May 1968.

CAB 301/861

 

CAB 301/882

President Mitterrand: Correspondence

15 December 1981 – 22 January 1982

This file contains correspondence and reports relating to French President François Mitterrand’s state of health, and comments by the British Ambassador in Paris.

CAB 301/882

 

CAB 301/899

Prime Minister’s phone call with President Carter

17 April 1978 – 08 May 1978

This file contains discussions between Prime Minister James Callaghan and US President Jimmy Carter.

CAB 301/899

 

CAB 301/901

The National Front

07 December 1978 – 20 March 1978

This file is concerned with the use of school premises for National Front electoral meetings and the activities of extremist groups outside school premises.

CAB 301/901

 

CAB 301/906

South Africa Week of Action

24 January 1977 – 27 January 1977

This file concerns court proceedings brought by the National Association for Freedom against two trade unions: the Union of Post Office Workers and Post Office Engineering Union, relating to the boycott of mail to South Africa.

CAB 301/906

 

CAB 301/924

Kim Philby in USSR

07 October 1967 – 12 October 1967

This file contains correspondence regarding concerns that Harold ‘Kim’ Philby was going to contribute to Soviet magazine, Sputnik.

CAB 301/924

 

CAB 301/927/1

Philby: notes, briefing and correspondence, Part 1 of 2

07 August 1967 – 20 May 1968

This file contains newspaper clippings from 1967 about Harold ‘Kim’ Philby.

CAB 301/927/1

 

CAB 301/927/2

Philby: notes, briefing and correspondence, Part 2 of 2

07 August 1967 – 20 May 1968

This file predominately relates to a series of articles by Harold Evans and The Sunday Times Insight Team about the Kim Philby case.

CAB 301/927/2

 

CAB 301/933

Phone Tapping: Correspondence and briefs

12 June 1957 – 19 February 1970

This file covers correspondence and briefs on phone-tapping and the interception of correspondence addressed to MPs.

CAB 301/933

 

CAB 301/934

Former King of Buganda

24 November 1966 – 14 April 1969

This file concerns ‘the Kabaka’ or king of Buganda, Sir Edward Mutesa, and whether he will accept abdication.

CAB 301/934

 

CAB 301/941

Gerald Brooke and the Krogers: Correspondence

18 March 1968 – 23 July 1969

This file concerns negotiations with the Soviet Union, which resulted in the release of Soviet agents Peter and Helen Kroger from prison, in exchange for Gerald Brooke.

CAB 301/941

 

CAB 301/942

Kim Philby: Film

24 January 1969 – 27 July 1970

This file contains correspondence from Maurice Stanton, director of a filmmaking company, regarding a contract his company had with Kim Philby’s son, who wanted to make a film of his forthcoming holiday with his father in Russia.

CAB 301/942

 

CAB 301/945

PM’s Conversations with President de Gaulle

07 February 1961 – 09 May 1961

This file contains correspondence relating to Harold Macmillan’s conversations with President Charles de Gaulle in Rambouillet on 28 and 29 January 1961.

CAB 301/945