First Thatcher ministry
was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 4 May 1979 to 28 November 1990, during which time she led a Conservative majority government. She was the first woman to hold that office. During her premiership, Thatcher moved to liberalise the British economy through deregulation, privatisation, and the promotion of entrepreneurialism.
This article details the first government Thatcher led at the invitation of Queen Elizabeth II from 1979 to 1983.
Formation
Following the vote of no confidence against the Labour government and prime minister James Callaghan on 28 March 1979, a general election was called for 3 May 1979. The Winter of Discontent had seen the Labour government's popularity slump during the previous four months, and the opinion polls all pointed towards a Conservative victory.The Tories won the election with a majority of 44 seats and their leader Margaret Thatcher became Britain's first female prime minister.
Thatcher inherited some of the worst economic statistics of postwar Britain. The nation was still feeling the effects of the numerous strikes during the recent Winter of Discontent. Inflation had recently topped 20%, and unemployment was in excess of 1.5 million for the first time since the 1930s.
Thatcher's monetarist and deflationary economic policies saw a cut in the inflation rate from a high of 22% in May 1980 to just over 13% by January 1981, and by June 1983 it had fallen to a 15-year low of 4.9%.
Decreasing the public sector borrowing requirement as a share of GDP was a part of the medium term financial strategy at the beginning of the first Thatcher ministry. It was brought down from around 5% during the 1978-1979 period to around half of this figure during the 1982-1983 period.
Public expenditure as a share of GDP increased at around 1.5% per year during the 1979-1983 period, despite the target being a reduction of 1% per year. This increase in spending was mostly driven by larger expenditures in social security programs such as unemployment benefits, industrial support, and increased lending to nationalized industries; defense spending did not go up considerably in the Falklands War.
Long-term unemployment increased considerably during this period: almost one third of the unemployed had been without a job for more than one year. The manufacturing industry was considerably affected during the first Thatcher government: employment in this sector decreased by almost 20% between 1979 and 1982. This decrease drove almost all of the drop in employment for this period.
Productivity started seeing considerable growth during the 1979-1982 period in some industries. Total factor productivity growth during these years was 13.9% in the metal manufacture industry, 6.6% in motor vehicle manufacture, 7.1% in ship and aircraft manufacture, and 7.5% in agriculture.
Income distribution widened considerably during Thatcher’s ministry. During the 1979-1986 period, real income per capita fell for the two lower quintiles by 4% and 12% respectively; but for the top three quintiles, it went up by 24%, 11%, and 10%, respectively.
She also oversaw union reforms which saw strikes at their lowest for 30 years by 1983. However, her economic policies also resulted in the loss of much of Britain's heavy industry. Coal pits, steel plants, machine-tools and shipyards were particularly hard hit, most of all in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the north of England. By 1983, unemployment had reached 3.2 million, although economic growth was now re-established following the recession of 1980 and 1981.
The Labour opposition, which changed leader from James Callaghan to Michael Foot in 1980, was in no position to exploit the situation and mount a threat to the Conservative government's power. The change of leader saw the party shift dramatically to the left, and in 1981 a host of disenchanted Labour MP's formed the breakaway Social Democratic Party. The new party swiftly formed an alliance with the Liberals with a view to forming a coalition government at the next election. Roy Jenkins, leader of the SDP, worked in conjunction with Liberal leader David Steel with the goal of forming a coalition government at the next general election. For a while, opinion polls suggested that this could happen, with support for the Alliance peaking at 50% in late 1981, with both the Tories and Labour faring dismally.
However, when the Falkland Islands were seized by Argentine forces in March 1982, Thatcher was swift to declare war on Argentina which was won on 14 June when the Argentines surrendered. The success of this campaign saw a swift turnaround in support for the Tory government, who by the summer of 1982 were firmly in the lead in all of the major opinion polls. A Conservative victory at the next election appeared inevitable, although it appeared far from clear whether it would be Labour or the Alliance who formed the next opposition.
Fate
Thatcher had the option of waiting until May 1984 before calling a general election, but the opinion polls remained in her favour as 1983 dawned and so she called a general election for 9 June. With all the pollsters pointing towards a Tory majority, the most interesting outcome of the election was the guessing game as to whether it would be Labour or the Alliance who formed the next opposition.In the event, the Tories were re-elected with a 144-seat majority. The election was an unmitigated disaster for Labour, who polled a mere 27.6% of the vote and were left with just 209 MPs in the new parliament. The Alliance came close to Labour in terms of votes with 25.4% of the electorate voting for them, but won a mere 23 seats.
Cabinets
May 1979 to September 1981
- Margaret Thatcher – Prime Minister
- William Whitelaw – Home Secretary
- The Lord Soames – Lord President of the Council
- The Lord Hailsham of St Marylebone – Lord Chancellor
- Ian Gilmour – Lord Privy Seal
- Sir Geoffrey Howe – Chancellor of the Exchequer
- John Biffen – Chief Secretary to the Treasury
- The Lord Carrington – Foreign Secretary
- Peter Walker – Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
- Norman St John-Stevas – Minister for the Arts and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
- Francis Pym – Secretary for Defence
- Mark Carlisle – Secretary of State for Education and Science
- James Prior – Secretary of State for Employment
- David Howell – Secretary of State for Energy
- Michael Heseltine – Secretary of State for the Environment
- Patrick Jenkin – Secretary of State for Health and Social Security
- Keith Joseph – Secretary of State for Industry
- Humphrey Atkins – Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
- Angus Maude – Paymaster-General
- George Younger – Secretary of State for Scotland
- John Nott – Secretary of State for Trade and President of the Board of Trade
- Nicholas Edwards – Secretary of State for Wales
Changes
- January 1981
- *Francis Pym succeeded Norman St John-Stevas as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. Pym succeeded Angus Maude as Paymaster-General.
- *John Nott succeeded Francis Pym as Secretary of State for Defence. John Biffen succeeded Nott as Secretary of State for Trade and President of the Board of Trade.
- *Leon Brittan succeeded John Biffen as Chief Secretary to the Treasury.
- *Norman St John-Stevas resigns as Minister for the Arts. His successor is not in the Cabinet.
- *the post of Secretary of State for Transport is brought into the Cabinet and Norman Fowler is given the post.
September 1981 to June 1983
In September 1981, a substantial reshuffle took place.
- Margaret Thatcher – Prime Minister
- William Whitelaw – Home Secretary
- Francis Pym – Lord President of the Council
- The Lord Hailsham of St Marylebone – Lord Chancellor
- Humphrey Atkins – Lord Privy Seal
- Sir Geoffrey Howe – Chancellor of the Exchequer
- Leon Brittan – Chief Secretary to the Treasury
- The Lord Carrington – Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
- Peter Walker – Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
- John Nott – Secretary of State for Defence
- Keith Joseph – Secretary of State for Education and Science
- Norman Tebbit – Secretary of State for Employment
- Nigel Lawson – Secretary of State for Energy
- Michael Heseltine – Secretary of State for the Environment
- Norman Fowler – Secretary of State for Health and Social Security
- Patrick Jenkin – Secretary of State for Industry
- The Baroness Young – Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
- James Prior – Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
- Cecil Parkinson – Paymaster-General
- George Younger – Secretary of State for Scotland
- John Biffen – Secretary of State for Trade and President of the Board of Trade
- David Howell – Secretary of State for Transport
- Nicholas Edwards – Secretary of State for Wales
Changes
- April 1982
- *Francis Pym succeeded Lord Carrington as Foreign Secretary. John Biffen succeeded Pym as Lord President of the Council.
- *Baroness Young succeeded Humphrey Atkins as Lord Privy Seal. Cecil Parkinson succeeded Young as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.
- *Lord Cockfield succeeded John Biffen as Secretary of State for Trade.
- January 1983Michael Heseltine succeeded John Nott as Secretary of State for Defence. Tom King succeeded Heseltine as Secretary of State for the Environment.
List of Ministers
| Office | Name | Dates | Notes |
| Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury and Minister for the Civil Service | Margaret Thatcher | 4 May 1979 | |
| Minister of State, Civil Service Department | Paul Channon | 7 May 1979 – 5 January 1981 | |
| Minister of State, Civil Service Department | Barney Hayhoe | 5 January 1981 – 12 November 1981 | |
| Lord Chancellor | The Lord Hailsham of St Marylebone | 5 May 1979 | |
| Lord President of the Council | The Lord Soames | 5 May 1979 | also Leader of the House of Lords |
| Lord President of the Council | Francis Pym | 14 September 1981 | also Leader of the House of Commons |
| Lord President of the Council | John Biffen | 5 April 1982 | also Leader of the House of Commons |
| Lord Privy Seal | Sir Ian Gilmour, Bt | 5 May 1979 | |
| Lord Privy Seal | Humphrey Atkins | 14 September 1981 | |
| Lord Privy Seal | The Baroness Young | 6 April 1982 | also Leader of the House of Lords |
| Chancellor of the Exchequer | Sir Geoffrey Howe | 5 May 1979 | |
| Chief Secretary to the Treasury | John Biffen | 5 May 1979 | |
| Chief Secretary to the Treasury | Leon Brittan | 5 January 1981 | |
| Minister of State, Treasury | Peter Rees | 6 May 1979 – 14 September 1981 | |
| Minister of State, Treasury | The Lord Cockfield | 6 May 1979 – 6 April 1982 | |
| Minister of State, Treasury | Jock Bruce-Gardyne | 15 September 1981 – 11 November 1981 | |
| Minister of State, Treasury | Barney Hayhoe | 11 November 1981 | |
| Minister of State, Treasury | John Wakeham | 6 April 1982 | |
| Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury | Michael Jopling | 5 May 1979 | |
| Financial Secretary to the Treasury | Nigel Lawson | 6 May 1979 | |
| Financial Secretary to the Treasury | Hon. Nicholas Ridley | 30 September 1981 | |
| Lords of the Treasury | John MacGregor | 7 May 1979 – 5 January 1981 | |
| Lords of the Treasury | Hon. Peter Morrison | 7 May 1979 – 5 January 1981 | |
| Lords of the Treasury | Lord James Douglas-Hamilton | 7 May 1979 – 1 October 1981 | |
| Lords of the Treasury | Carol Mather | 7 May 1979 – 1 October 1981 | |
| Lords of the Treasury | David Waddington | 16 May 1979 – 5 January 1981 | |
| Lords of the Treasury | John Wakeham | 9 January 1981 – 15 September 1981 | |
| Lords of the Treasury | Hon. Robert Boscawen | 9 January 1981 – 17 February 1983 | |
| Lords of the Treasury | John Cope | 9 January 1981 – 13 June 1983 | |
| Lords of the Treasury | Tony Newton | 1 October 1981 – 5 March 1982 | |
| Lords of the Treasury | John Gummer | 1 October 1981 – 6 January 1983 | |
| Lords of the Treasury | Hon. Peter Brooke | 1 October 1981 – 13 June 1983 | |
| Lords of the Treasury | Alastair Goodlad | 16 February 1982 | |
| Lords of the Treasury | Donald Thompson | 14 January 1983 | |
| Lords of the Treasury | David Hunt | 23 February 1983 | |
| Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs | The Lord Carrington | 5 May 1979 | |
| Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs | Francis Pym | 5 April 1982 | |
| Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs | Peter Blaker | 5 May 1979 – 29 May 1981 | |
| Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs | Hon. Nicholas Ridley | 6 May 1979 – 29 September 1981 | |
| Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs | Hon. Douglas Hurd | 6 May 1979 – 11 June 1983 | Minister of State for Europe |
| Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs | Richard Luce | 30 September 1981 – 5 April 1982 | |
| Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs | Cranley Onslow | 5 April 1982 – 13 June 1983 | |
| Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs | The Lord Belstead | 5 April 1982 – 13 June 1983 | |
| Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs | Timothy Raison | 6 January 1983 | also Minister of Overseas Development |
| Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs | Richard Luce | 6 May 1979 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs | The Lord Trefgarne | 14 September 1981 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs | Malcolm Rifkind | 6 April 1982 | |
| Minister for Overseas Development | Timothy Raison | 6 January 1983 | |
| Secretary of State for the Home Department | William Whitelaw | 5 May 1979 | also Deputy Leader of the Conservative Party |
| Minister of State for Home Affairs | Leon Brittan | 6 May 1979 – 5 January 1981 | |
| Minister of State for Home Affairs | Timothy Raison | 6 May 1979 – 6 January 1983 | Minister of State for Immigration |
| Minister of State for Home Affairs | Patrick Mayhew | 5 January 1981 – 13 June 1983 | |
| Minister of State for Home Affairs | David Waddington | 6 January 1983 | Minister of State for Immigration |
| Under-Secretary of State for Home Affairs | The Lord Belstead | 7 May 1979 – 6 April 1982 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Home Affairs | The Lord Elton | 6 April 1982 – 13 June 1983 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Home Affairs | David Mellor | 6 January 1983 | |
| Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food | Peter Walker | 5 May 1979 | |
| Minister of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food | The Earl Ferrers | 7 May 1979 – 13 June 1983 | |
| Minister of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food | Alick Buchanan-Smith | 7 May 1979 – 13 June 1983 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food | Jerry Wiggin | 7 May 1979 – 29 September 1981 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food | Peggy Fenner | 14 September 1981 – 13 June 1983 | |
| Minister for the Arts | Norman St John-Stevas | 5 May 1979 | also Leader of the House of Commons |
| Minister for the Arts | Paul Channon | 5 January 1981 | |
| Secretary of State for Defence | Francis Pym | 5 May 1979 | |
| Secretary of State for Defence | John Nott | 5 January 1981 | |
| Secretary of State for Defence | Michael Heseltine | 8 January 1983 | |
| Minister of State for Defence | The Lord Strathcona and Mount Royal | 6 May 1979 – 5 January 1981 | |
| Minister of State for Defence | The Viscount Trenchard | 5 January 1981 – 29 May 1981 | Office abolished 29 May 1981; Trenchard appointed Minister of State for Defence Procurement |
| Minister of State for the Armed Forces | Peter Blaker | 29 May 1981 | |
| Minister of State for Defence Procurement | The Viscount Trenchard | 29 May 1981 | |
| Minister of State for Defence Procurement | Geoffrey Pattie | 6 January 1983 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for the Army | Barney Hayhoe | 6 May 1979 – 5 January 1981 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for the Army | Philip Goodhart | 5 January 1981 – 19 May 1981 | Office abolished 29 May 1981; Goodhart appointed Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces |
| Under-Secretary of State for the Navy | Keith Speed | 6 May 1979 – 18 May 1981 | Office abolished 29 May 1981 |
| Under-Secretary of State for the Air Force | Geoffrey Pattie | 6 May 1979 – 29 May 1981 | Office abolished 29 May 1981; Pattie appointed Under-Secretary of State for Defence Procurement |
| Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces | Philip Goodhart | 29 May 1981 – 30 September 1981 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces | Jerry Wiggin | 15 September 1981 – 11 June 1983 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Defence Procurement | Geoffrey Pattie | 29 May 1981 – 6 January 1983 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Defence Procurement | Ian Stewart | 6 January 1983 | |
| Secretary of State for Education and Science | Mark Carlisle | 5 May 1979 | |
| Secretary of State for Education and Science | Sir Keith Joseph | 14 September 1981 | |
| Minister of State, Education and Science | The Baroness Young | 7 May 1979 – 14 September 1981 | |
| Minister of State, Education and Science | Paul Channon | 5 January 1981 – 13 June 1983 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Education and Science | Rhodes Boyson | 7 May 1979 – 13 June 1983 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Education and Science | Neil Macfarlane | 7 May 1979 – 15 September 1981 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Education and Science | William Shelton | 15 September 1981 – 13 June 1983 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Education and Science | Hon. William Waldegrave | 15 September 1981 – 13 June 1983 | |
| Secretary of State for Employment | James Prior | 5 May 1979 | |
| Secretary of State for Employment | Norman Tebbit | 14 September 1981 | |
| Minister of State, Employment | The Earl of Gowrie | 7 May 1979 – 15 September 1981 | |
| Minister of State, Employment | Michael Alison | 15 September 1981 – 13 June 1983 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Employment | Jim Lester | 7 May 1979 – 5 January 1981 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Employment | Patrick Mayhew | 7 May 1979 – 5 January 1981 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Employment | David Waddington | 5 January 1981 – 6 January 1983 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Employment | Hon. Peter Morrison | 5 January 1981 – 13 June 1983 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Employment | John Gummer | 6 January 1983 | |
| Secretary of State for Energy | David Howell | 5 May 1979 | |
| Secretary of State for Energy | Nigel Lawson | 14 September 1981 | |
| Minister of State, Energy | Hamish Gray | 7 May 1979 – 13 June 1983 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Energy | Norman Lamont | 7 May 1979 – 5 September 1981 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Energy | John Moore | 7 May 1979 – 13 June 1983 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Energy | David Mellor | 15 September 1981 – 6 January 1983 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Energy | The Earl of Avon | 6 January 1983 | |
| Secretary of State for the Environment | Michael Heseltine | 5 May 1979 | |
| Secretary of State for the Environment | Tom King | 6 January 1983 | |
| Minister of State for Local Government | Tom King | 6 May 1979 | |
| Minister of State for Local Government | The Lord Bellwin | 6 January 1983 | |
| Minister of State for Housing | John Stanley | 7 May 1979 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Sport | Hector Monro | 7 May 1979 – 30 September 1981 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Sport | Neil Macfarlane | 15 September 1981 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Environment | Marcus Fox | 7 May 1979 – 5 January 1981 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Environment | Geoffrey Finsberg | 7 May 1979 – 15 September 1981 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Environment | The Lord Bellwin | 7 May 1979 – 6 January 1983 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Environment | Giles Shaw | 5 January 1981 – 13 June 1983 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Environment | Sir George Young, Bt | 15 September 1981 | |
| Secretary of State for Health and Social Security | Patrick Jenkin | 5 May 1979 | |
| Secretary of State for Health and Social Security | Norman Fowler | 14 September 1981 | |
| Minister of State, Health | Gerard Vaughan | 7 May 1979 | |
| Minister of State, Health | Kenneth Clarke | 5 March 1982 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Health and Social Security | Sir George Young, Bt | 7 May 1979 – 15 September 1981 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Health and Social Security | Lynda Chalker | 7 May 1979 – 5 March 1982 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Health and Social Security | Geoffrey Finsberg | 15 September 1981 – 14 June 1983 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Health and Social Security | The Lord Elton | 15 September 1981 – 6 April 1982 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Health and Social Security | Tony Newton | 5 March 1982 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Health and Social Security | The Lord Trefgarne | 6 April 1982 – 14 June 1983 | |
| Minister of State, Social Security | Reginald Prentice | 7 May 1979 – 5 January 1981 | |
| Minister of State, Social Security | Hugh Rossi | 5 January 1981 – 12 June 1983 | |
| Secretary of State for Industry | Sir Keith Joseph, Bt | 7 May 1979 | |
| Secretary of State for Industry | Patrick Jenkin | 14 September 1981 | Merged with the Office of Trade 12 June 1983 |
| Minister of State, Industry | Hon. Adam Butler | 6 May 1979 – 5 January 1981 | |
| Minister of State, Industry | The Viscount Trenchard | 6 May 1979 – 5 January 1981 | |
| Minister of State, Industry | Norman Tebbit | 5 January 1981 – 14 September 1981 | |
| Minister of State, Industry | Norman Lamont | 14 September 1981 – 12 June 1983 | |
| Minister of State, Industry and Information Technology | Kenneth Baker | 5 January 1981 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Industry | David Mitchell | 6 May 1979 – 5 January 1981 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Industry | Michael Marshall | 6 May 1979 – 15 September 1981 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Industry | John MacGregor | 5 January 1981 – 12 June 1983 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Industry | John Wakeham | 15 September 1981 – 6 April 1982 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Industry | John Butcher | 6 April 1982 – 12 June 1983 | |
| Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster | Norman St John-Stevas | 5 May 1979 | also Leader of the House of Commons |
| Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster | Francis Pym | 5 January 1981 | also Leader of the House of Commons |
| Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster | The Baroness Young | 14 September 1981 | also Leader of the House of Lords |
| Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster | Cecil Parkinson | 6 April 1982 | |
| Secretary of State for Northern Ireland | Humphrey Atkins | 5 May 1979 | |
| Secretary of State for Northern Ireland | James Prior | 14 September 1981 | |
| Minister of State, Northern Ireland | Michael Alison | 7 May 1979 – 15 September 1981 | |
| Minister of State, Northern Ireland | Hugh Rossi | 7 May 1979 – 5 January 1981 | |
| Minister of State, Northern Ireland | Hon. Adam Butler | 5 January 1981 – 10 June 1983 | |
| Minister of State, Northern Ireland | The Earl of Gowrie | 15 September 1981 – 10 June 1983 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Northern Ireland | The Lord Elton | 7 May 1979 – 15 September 1981 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Northern Ireland | Philip Goodhart | 7 May 1979 – 5 January 1981 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Northern Ireland | Giles Shaw | 7 May 1979 – 5 January 1981 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Northern Ireland | David Mitchell | 5 January 1981 – 13 June 1983 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Northern Ireland | John Patten | 5 January 1981 – 13 June 1983 | |
| Under-Secretary of State, Northern Ireland | Nicholas Scott | 15 September 1981 – June 1983 | |
| Paymaster-General | Angus Maude | 5 May 1979 | |
| Paymaster-General | Francis Pym | 5 January 1981 | |
| Paymaster-General | Cecil Parkinson | 14 September 1981 | |
| Secretary of State for Scotland | Hon. George Younger | 5 May 1979 | |
| Minister of State for Scotland | The Earl of Mansfield | 7 May 1979 – 13 June 1983 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Scotland | Alexander Fletcher | 7 May 1979 – 14 June 1983 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Scotland | Russell Fairgrieve | 7 May 1979 – 15 September 1981 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Scotland | Malcolm Rifkind | 7 May 1979 – 6 April 1982 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Scotland | Allan Stewart | 15 September 1981 – June 1983 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Scotland | John MacKay | 6 April 1982 – June 1983 | |
| Secretary of State for Trade | John Nott | 5 May 1979 | |
| Secretary of State for Trade | John Biffen | 5 January 1981 | |
| Secretary of State for Trade | The Lord Cockfield | 6 April 1982 | |
| Minister for Consumer Affairs | Sally Oppenheim-Barnes | 5 May 1979 | |
| Minister for Consumer Affairs | Gerard Vaughan | 5 March 1982 | |
| Minister for Trade | Cecil Parkinson | 7 May 1979 | |
| Minister for Trade | Peter Rees | 14 September 1981 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Trade | Norman Tebbit | 5 May 1979 – 5 January 1981 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Trade | Reginald Eyre | 7 May 1979 – 5 March 1982 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Trade | The Lord Trefgarne | 5 January 1981 – 15 September 1981 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Trade | Iain Sproat | 15 September 1981 – 12 June 1983 | |
| Minister of Transport | Norman Fowler | 11 May 1979 – 5 January 1981 | became Secretary of State for Transport |
| Secretary of State for Transport | Norman Fowler | 5 January 1981 | |
| Secretary of State for Transport | David Howell | 14 September 1981 | |
| Parliamentary Secretary for Transport | Kenneth Clarke | 7 May 1979 – 5 January 1981 | became Under-Secretary of State for Transport |
| Under-Secretary of State for Transport | Kenneth Clarke | 5 January 1981 – 5 March 1982 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Transport | Lynda Chalker | 5 March 1982 – June 1983 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Transport | Reginald Eyre | 5 March 1982 – 11 June 1983 | |
| Secretary of State for Wales | Nicholas Edwards | 5 May 1979 | |
| Minister of State for Wales | John Stradling Thomas | 17 February 1983 – June 1983 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Wales | Michael Roberts | 7 May 1979 – 6 January 1983 | |
| Under-Secretary of State for Wales | Wyn Roberts | 7 May 1979 – June 1983 | |
| Attorney General | Michael Havers | 5 May 1979 | |
| Solicitor General | Sir Ian Percival | 5 May 1979 | |
| Lord Advocate | The Lord Mackay of Clashfern | 5 May 1979 | |
| Solicitor General for Scotland | Nicholas Fairbairn | 7 May 1979 | |
| Solicitor General for Scotland | Peter Fraser | 28 January 1982 | |
| Treasurer of the Household | John Stradling Thomas | 6 May 1979 | |
| Treasurer of the Household | Hon. Anthony Berry | 17 February 1983 | |
| Comptroller of the Household | Spencer Le Marchant | 7 May 1979 | |
| Comptroller of the Household | Hon. Anthony Berry | 30 September 1981 | |
| Comptroller of the Household | Carol Mather | 17 February 1983 | |
| Vice-Chamberlain of the Household | Hon. Anthony Berry | 7 May 1979 | |
| Vice-Chamberlain of the Household | Carol Mather | 30 September 1981 | |
| Vice-Chamberlain of the Household | Hon. Robert Boscawen | 17 February 1983 | |
| Captain of the Gentlemen-at-Arms | The Lord Denham | 6 May 1979 | |
| Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard | The Lord Sandys | 6 May 1979 | |
| Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard | The Earl of Swinton | 20 October 1982 | |
| Lords-in-Waiting | The Viscount Long | 9 May 1979 – June 1983 | |
| Lords-in-Waiting | The Lord Mowbray and Stourton | 9 May 1979 – 22 September 1980 | |
| Lords-in-Waiting | The Lord Lyell | 9 May 1979 – June 1983 | |
| Lords-in-Waiting | The Lord Cullen of Ashbourne | 9 May 1979 – 27 May 1982 | |
| Lords-in-Waiting | The Lord Trefgarne | 9 May 1979 – 5 January 1981 | |
| Lords-in-Waiting | The Earl of Avon | 22 September 1980 – 6 January 1983 | |
| Lords-in-Waiting | The Lord Skelmersdale | 9 January 1981 – June 1983 | |
| Lords-in-Waiting | The Lord Glenarthur | 27 May 1982 – 10 June 1983 | |
| Lords-in-Waiting | The Lord Lucas of Chilworth | 6 January 1983 – June 1983 |