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Series

HM Treasury: Chancellor of the Exchequer: Gordon Brown: Private Office Papers (PO-CH/GB...

Catalogue reference: T 720

What's it about?

T 720

This series contains files regarding Gordon Brown’s time as Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Private Office at HM Treasury, including policy work and high level correspondence.

Full description and record details

Reference

T 720

Title
HM Treasury: Chancellor of the Exchequer: Gordon Brown: Private Office Papers (PO-CH/GB Prefix Series)
Date

1993-2009

Description

This series contains files regarding Gordon Brown’s time as Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Private Office at HM Treasury, including policy work and high level correspondence.

Arrangement

The records are arranged by former reference.

Held by
The National Archives, Kew
Former department reference

PO-CH/GB

Legal status

Public Record(s)

Language

English

Creator(s)
  • Brown, Gordon, 1951-2022
  • Treasury, 1667-1667
Physical description

1078 file(s)

Access conditions

Open unless otherwise stated

Immediate source of acquisition

From 2022 Treasury

Accruals

Series is accruing

Administrative / biographical background

Gordon Brown served as Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1997 to 2007. The Treasury is responsible for the overall management of the economy. With support from Treasury officials, the Chancellor of the Exchequer advises and implements economic and financial functions in order to aid the running of the United Kingdom. The collection covers records created by the private office of Gordon Brown during his tenure as Chancellor of the Exchequer working under the Labour Government. The Chancellors responsibilities cover: fiscal policy (including the presenting of the annual Budget); monetary policy; setting inflation targets; ministerial arrangements (in his role as Second Lord of the Treasury).

Key topics during Gordon Brown's tenure include:

Sale of UK gold reserves Between 1999-2002: Brown sold approximately half of the UK's gold reserves following an extended bear market. The official stated reason for this sale was to diversify the assets of the UK's reserves away from gold, which was deemed to be too volatile

National Minimum Wage Act 1998: In 1998 the Chancellor introduced a National Minimum Wage for the first time in Britain. This secured minimum wage of £3.60 per hour, with lower rates for younger workers.

Sure Start: An initiative announced in 1998 by Gordon Brown with the intention of giving children the best possible start in life through improvement of childcare, early education, health, and family support, with an emphasis on outreach and community development.

Child Trust Fund Launched in 2005: The Chancellor introduced a cash-endowment for every child born after 31st August 2002 based on parental income.

Record URL
https://beta.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/id/C17928901/

Catalogue hierarchy

Over 27 million records

This record is held at The National Archives, Kew

324,581 records

Within the department: T

Records created or inherited by HM Treasury

You are currently looking at the series: T 720

HM Treasury: Chancellor of the Exchequer: Gordon Brown: Private Office Papers (PO-CH/GB Prefix Series)