This week the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland released to the public, under the 30 year rule, 700 cabinet files, mostly relating to 1966. A small number of files have either fully or partially closed on the grounds of sensitivity. Under new "open government" guidelines, these files will be subject to a further review after 10 years. Despite the sensitivity of the period, the Cabinet Conclusions files are fully accessible to researchers. However, tantalisingly, a file entitled Correspondence Concerning the attraction of New Industry to Northern Ireland (1960-66) is embargoed for 10 years, as is one relating to Fermanagh Nationalist Registration Committee (1965-66).
The Northern Ireland cabinet of 1966 was headed by Capt Terence O'Neill and included several figures destined to dominate unionist politics in the 1960s and 1970s.
Among these were Mr Brian Faulkner (Minister of Commerce), Herbert Kirk (Minister of Finance), Brian McConnell (Minister of Home Affairs until October), W.J. Morgan (Minister of Health), Harry West (Minister of Agriculture), W.K. Fitzsimmons (Minister for Education and later for Health), Capt William Long (Minister of Education from October), William Craig (who transferred from Development to Home Affairs) and Edward W. Jones QC (Attorney General).