Catalogue description UK Representative and Northern Ireland Office: Registered Files (UKR series)

Files are in former reference order within transfers.

In August 1969 the British government appointed a representative in Northern Ireland to represent its views to the Northern Ireland Government, to report to the Home Secretary on views of Northern Ireland ministers and on the situation in Northern Ireland, and to liaise with the General Officer Commanding on matters of internal security.

The first UK Representative was Oliver Wright who was then between posts in the Diplomatic Service. Based in a hotel outside Belfast, he travelled extensively in Northern Ireland maintaining contact with leading personages, especially catholics and nationalists who had little or no contact with Stormont ministers, the leaders of the SDLP during the period of its birth, and members of the catholic hierarchy. Wright was succeeded in turn by Ronnie Burroughs and Howard Smith, both also diplomats between postings.

In 1971 Smith oversaw the acquisition of Laneside, a house in North Down where the UK representative could live, work and entertain more easily. When direct rule was imposed in March 1972, Laneside became formally Division 3 of the Northern Ireland Office, Belfast. Smith remained in Northern Ireland for a short time as Special Adviser, in which role he was replaced by his deputy Frank Steele.

With a small staff drawn from the Foreign Office, Steele and his successor James Allan continued to have unofficial contacts and informal meetings with politicians and others, especially those (both nationalists and loyalists) who might not wish to be seen talking to the Northern Ireland Office. This was particularly important during the negotiations leading to the Sunningdale Conference and the establishment of power sharing in 1973-4. When necessary, Laneside staff were joined for meetings by ministers and more senior officials. Laneside staff also assisted in external affairs, particularly relations with the Irish Republic, reporting to the Foreign Office.

In early 1976 the work of Laneside was taken over by the Political Affairs Division of the Northern Ireland Office, Belfast. This carried on the same kind of work but the closer identification with the department meant that more of its activities consisted of meetings and entertainment away from the office. The decline in political actvitiy after the Constitutional Convention reduced the need for this type of work, though PAB still existed in late 1979.