The Downing Street Years, 1979-1990

List of Abbreviations

ABM — Anti-Ballistic Missile

ACAS — Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service

AGR — Advanced Gas-cooled Reactor

ALCM — Air-launched Cruise Missile

ANC — African National Congress

AUEW — Amalgamated Union of Engineering Workers

BL — British Leyland (later Rover Group)

BMA — British Medical Association

BMD — Ballistic Missile Defence

BR — British Rail

BSC — British Steel Corporation

CAP — Common Agricultural Policy

CBI — Confederation of British Industry

CDU — German Christian Democrat Party

CEGB — Central Electricity Generating Board

CFCs — Chlorofluorocarbons

CFE — Conventional Forces in Europe

CHOGM — Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting

CND — Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament

CPRS — Central Policy Review Staff

CPS — Centre for Policy Studies

CSCE — Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe

DES — Department of Education and Science

DHA — District Health Authority

DHSS — Department of Health and Social Security(divided from 1988)

DoE — Department of the Environment

DTI — Department of Trade and Industry

DUP — Democratic Unionist Party

E — Economic Committee of the Cabinet

E(A) — Principal sub-committee of E

EBRD — European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

EC — European Community

ECJ — European Court of Justice

ECOFIN — Economic and Financial Affairs Council of the EC

ECST — European Convention on the Suppression of Terrorism

Ecu — European Currency Unit

EDG — European Democratic Group

EDU — European Democratic Union

EFL — External Financing Limit

EFTA — European Free Trade Association

EMS — European Monetary System

EMU — Economic and Monetary Union

EPG — Eminent Persons Group (sent to South Africa)

ERM — Exchange Rate Mechanism (of the EMS)

EXCO — Executive Council (Hong Kong)

FCO — Foreign and Commonwealth Office

FRG — Federal Republic of Germany

FSBR — Financial Statement and Budget Report (‘the Red Book’)

G7 — Group of Seven

GATT — General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade

GDP — Gross Domestic Product

GLC — Greater London Council

GLCM — Ground-launched Cruise Missile

GM — General Motors

GM school — Grant-Maintained school

GNP — Gross National Product

GP — General Practitioner

H — Home Affairs Committee of the Cabinet

HAT — Housing Action Trust

HMI — Her Majesty’s Inspectorate (of schools)

IDU — International Democratic Union

IEA — Institute of Economic Affairs

IGC — Inter-Governmental Conference

ILEA — Inner London Education Authority

IMF — International Monetary Fund

INF — Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces

INLA — Irish National Liberation Army

IRA — Irish Republican Army

ISTC — Iron and Steel Trades Confederation

ITC — Independent Television Commission

L — Legislation Committee of the Cabinet

LEA — Local Education Authority

MCAs — Monetary compensation amounts

MEZ — Maritime Exclusion Zone

MIRVs — Multiple independently targettable re-entry vehicles

MLR — Minimum Lending Rate

MNF — Multi-National Force

MoD — Ministry of Defence

MSC — Manpower Services Commission

MTFS — Medium Term Financial Strategy

MO — Monetary base

£M3 — Sterling M3

NACODS — National Association of Colliery Overmen, Deputies and Shotfirers

NADs — National Armaments Directors

NATO — North Atlantic Treaty Organization

NCB — National Coal Board (later British Coal)

NCC — National Curriculum Council

NDLS — National Dock Labour Scheme

NEB — National Enterprise Board

NEDC — National Economic Development Council (‘Neddy’)

NGA — National Graphical Association

NHS — National Health Service

NICs — National Insurance contributions

NIO — Northern Ireland Office

NIS — National Insurance Surcharge

NRC — National Reporting Centre

NUM — National Union of Mineworkers

OAS — Organization of American States

OD — Overseas and Defence Committee of the Cabinet

OD(SA) — Sub-Committee of OD which ran the Falklands War

ODA — Overseas Development Administration

OECD — Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development

OECS — Organization of Eastern Caribbean States

OPEC — Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries

OUP — Official Unionist Party

PLO — Palestine Liberation Organization

PPS — Parliamentary Private Secretary

PSBR — Public Sector Borrowing Requirement

PSDR — Public Sector Debt Repayment

QL — Queen’s Speeches and Future Legislation Committee of the Cabinet

QUANGO — Quasi-autonomous non-governmental organization

RHA — Regional Health Authority

RPI — Retail Price Index

RUC — Royal Ulster Constabulary

SALT — Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty

SAS — Special Air Service

SDLP — Social Democratic and Labour Party

SDP — Social Democratic Party

SDI — Strategic Defence Initiative

SLCM — Sea-launched Cruise Missile

SNF — Short-range Nuclear Forces

SSA — Standard Spending Assessment

START — Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty

SWAPO — South West Africa People’s Organization

TASM — Tactical Air-to-Surface Missile

TEZ — Total Exclusion Zone

TGWU — Transport and General Workers’ Union

TSRB — Top Salaries Review Board

TUC — Trades Union Congress

UAE — United Arab Emirates

UDM — Union of Democratic Miners

UDR — Ulster Defence Regiment

UNSCR — United Nations Security Council Resolution

VAT — Value Added Tax

WEU — Western European Union