Lord Carrington: an appreciation
Today is the memorial service for the former foreign secretary Lord (Peter) Carrington, who died July 2018 aged 99. We remember a life-time of his public service and his time as foreign secretary.
Civil service
Policy advice at No.10: the Lloyd George legacy
Posted by:
Dr Andrew Blick and Professor George Jones, Posted on:
-
Categories:
Civil service, Prime Ministers and No. 10
The Prime Minister's Secretariat (the 'Garden Suburb') was formed 100 years ago, to support David Lloyd George in the conduct of the war. But would it still be needed once hostilities came to an end?
The General Register Office and the First World War
Posted by:
Audrey Collins, Posted on:
-
Categories:
Civil service, First World War, The National Archives
Learn how the General Register Office, responsible for the civil registration of births, marriages and deaths in England and Wales, coped with the extra demands which resulted from the First World War.
A Century of Policy Advice at No.10 – Part One
Posted by:
Dr Andrew Blick and Professor George Jones, Posted on:
-
Categories:
Cabinet Office, Civil service, Prime Ministers and No. 10
![Extract of the draft note from 2 January 1917 on 10 Downing Street headed paper which reads 'To: The Private Secretary, the Prime Minister has decided, with a view to keeping himself in close touch with the several departments, to establish a ['Secretariat' is crossed out and replaced by 'Department'] in connection with Office of the First Lord of the Treasury. The following gentlemen have been appointed to act as secretaries to the ['First Lord of the Treasury' is crossed out and replaced by 'new Department']](https://history.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2017/01/edited-1024x753.jpg)
It is a century since David Lloyd George formed the first ever prime-ministerial policy team, known as the ‘Garden Suburb’.
9 December 1916: David Lloyd George introduces minuted Cabinet meetings and instigates the Cabinet Office
Posted by:
Dr Andrew Blick, Posted on:
-
Categories:
Cabinet Office, Cabinet Secretaries, Civil service, Defence and conflict, First World War
A century ago today, David Lloyd George, the new Prime Minister, held the first meeting of his War Cabinet. In the process he introduced an innovatory practice, and instigated an important institution at the heart of British government. A hundred …
Women in the Civil Service, WW1: winning the battle for acceptance
During the First World War there was a huge increase in the number of women engaged in areas of work which had previously been dominated by men. One of these was clerical work within the Civil Service. Women had worked …
“A perfect nuisance”: The history of women in the Civil Service
The title quote of this piece in fact refers to married women in the civil service and comes from a document dated 1947 which states “To us, married women have been, to quote the Treasury – “a perfect nuisance” . …
Administrators of the British Empire
The Colonial Office and the Foreign Office have very distinct histories. The British Colonies were initially administered jointly by the Secretary of State for War, and the Board of Trade, who were focused on their own interests, not necessarily the Colonies themselves. From 1795 all …
They also served...
Posted by:
Audrey Collins, Posted on:
-
Categories:
Civil service, First World War, Social history, The National Archives
‘In an office like ours, which is engaged solely on war work, it is often a matter of extreme difficulty to decide whether a man’s duty is to remain in his present post or to join the Army’ (National Archives …
The Silver Greyhound - The Messenger Service
Posted by:
Keith Mitchell, Posted on:
-
Categories:
Civil service, Foreign affairs and diplomacy, The National Archives
Everyone likes the opportunity to travel in their job; especially if you are asked to go overseas, and sometimes you may choose to take your work home with you. This is a long established practice for many occupations. But the …