Catalogue description Ministry of Aviation: Private Office Papers

This series consists of unregistered papers from the Private Office of the Minister of Aviation. They include papers circulated at Cabinet level, especially by the Minister (later Secretary of State) of Defence, concerning the British nuclear deterrent, the proposed development of the Blue Streak missile for space research and visits to other countries in connection with these matters by Sir Peter Thorneycroft, both as Minister of Aviation (July 1960 - July 1962) and Minister of Defence (1962 - Oct 1964).

Some files concern excessive profits made by Ferranti from contracts awarded by the Ministry of Aviation.

Private Office papers for the Ministry of Defence are in DEFE 13

Private Office papers from 1950 until the creation of the Ministry of Aviation are in SUPP 16

Ministry of Aviation, 1959-1967