Diaries: 1947-53 v.1

This is an account of the workings of government from 1947 to 1961 as seen through the diaries of Robert Hall, now Lord Roberthall, who was economic advisor to a succession of governments. In his time he was Director of the Economic Section and Economic Advisor to HMG and exercised considerable influence on economic policy, serving under eight Chancellors. The diaries reveal the thinking behind advice offered to ministers and traces, on a week-by-week basis, the current preoccupations of the Chancellor's advisors. It is the editor's intention to allow the diary to speak for itself as far as possible, but he offers some background material for readers unfamiliar with the period. A further volume covering the period 1954-61 will be following as soon as permission to publish it can be obtained.