Treasury: Blue Notes

The 'Blue Notes' relate to annual estimates of departments and provide information as to their establishment and functions. This series contains only the published versions and correspondence can be found scattered amongst a number of Treasury files series.

Blue Notes had no statutory or formal basis and were not published. Originally, they were prepared as briefs for ministers as an aid to Committee of Supply discussions. They later provided an information service about the setting up and the functions of departments. The notes were confidential documents, available only to the Treasury, Exchequer and Audit Department, and the departments in which they originated.

Until 1933 each department produced one note, which was revised and brought up-to-date annually. After 1933, certain alterations were made in the form and method of revision and a main note and a current note were produced. The main note consisted of two parts:

• historical and general memorandum on the department;
• a brief description of the scope of the various subheads of the estimate with reference to historical and general memorandum on the department.

The main note was revised and reprinted as occasion demanded. The current note was prepared annually.

In 1940 however, the work on blue notes was suspended for the duration of the war. After 1946, when the full procedure was resumed, there were vast changes in departmental functions and activities and a number of new departments were set up.

The rewriting of the main note took place every five years unless there was a good reason for delay, e.g. a major change in a department's functions or possibly the cessation of functions. The annual amending note contained only information - background and confidential - which was not apparent from the reading of the estimates.

The issue of blue notes stopped in 1968 and where briefly re-started in the late 1970s before being finally stopped.

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