Letters and policy papers from 1999 mainly relating to education and employment issues, some of which were sent from Blunkett's private office at the Department of Education and Employment. Includes personal correspondence with Tony Blair. The majority of these items are labelled in braille.

Handwritten note from Blair congratulating Blunkett on his recent presentation on 'Learning to Succeed' - a white paper on post-16 education.

A series of short policy papers (plus drafts) sent to the Prime Minister by Blunkett labelled 'Personal, Private and Confidential' covering policy and strategic challenges, the manifesto and policies for the second Parliament. Papers entitled: Spending Review and Policy Implications: Welfare Reform; Economic, Social and Political Regeneration; and Westminster and Whitehall. Also includes a response from Tony Blair. Papers are within their original envelope marked with a braille label.

Letter from Madeleine Durie, Private Secretary to David Blunkett, to David North, Private Secretary to the Prime Minister.

Letter from Alan Milburn, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, concerning Standard Spending Assessment (SSA) and Blunkett's concerns about lack of funding for schools expressed in an earlier letter (not held). Also includes response from Blunkett addressed to Andrew Smith, the new Chief Secretary of the Treasury following a cabinet reshuffle; and correspondence between John Prescott, Deputy Prime Minister, and Blunkett on the same issue.

Letter to Blunkett from Lynda Lee Potter thanking him for his interview with her [for the Daily Mail]

Letter from Blunkett to the Prime Minister concerning government 'monitoring' of the Daily Mail which Blunkett believes will irritate the paper and alienate its readers; and the importance of balance in the debate surrounding the abolition of clause 28.

Correspondence with Alistair Darling, Secretary of State for Social Security, relating to sanctions within the New Deal for Young People programme.

Correspondence with Andrew Smith, Chief Secretary of the Treasury, concerning his request for amendments to the draft prospectus for the Learning and Skills Council.

Handwritten note from the Prime Minister thanking Blunkett for being a 'tower of strength' during a difficult period for the government.

Photocopy of letter to Gordon Brown, Chancellor of the Exchequer, from David Blunkett enclosing information on packages of measures for consideration in the budget. The first paper relates to employment measures in unemployment blackspots; and the second to opportunities for young people and adults in deprived areas. Also includes information on the Higher Education Reach Out scheme.

Personal letter to the Prime Minister reporting back from a meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party to discuss the poor results for the party in the local elections and in the London Mayoral election. Also includes a set of recommendation from Blunkett.

Personal letter to the Prime Minister relating to higher education spending in light of 'recent events' and commenting on government handling of the media.

Letter/memo from Blunkett regarding a ministerial group on maternity and parental leave, and his views on proposed changes.

Letter to the Prime Minister mainly concerning expenditure on education over the following two years, and Blunkett's concerns that it will not meet the government's spending pledges for education.

Letter to the Prime Minister concerning a meeting between them the previous evening to discuss government spending on schools, and Blunkett's hope that there may still be some leeway for more resources for education spending.

Photocopy of letter from Andrew Smith, Chief Secretary of the Treasury, to John Prescott, Deputy Prime Minister, which was faxed to the Department of Education. Includes requests for changes to be made to the draft, and mentions proposals on education funding.

Letter from Andrew Adonis, educational policy adviser in the Prime Minister's Policy Unit, to Blunkett concerning education funding. The letter mentions a proposal from Bob Kerslake, Chief Executive of Sheffield City Council, that a separate Standard Spending Assessment (SSA) for schools be established, and the potential timescales of this and the impact on Local Education Authorities (LEAs).

Handwritten note thanking Blunkett for his gift of a copy of Machiavelli's 'The Prince' before Blair's trip to Italy.

Letter from Blunkett to Moira Wallace, Head of the Social Exclusion Unit, giving his views on the draft strategy taking into account extensive consultation work undertaken by the DFEE.