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Also contained within the files – held at the ̽��ֱ��’s Churchill Archives Centre – is material relating to Conservative debates on devolution in Scotland and Wales in the 1970s.

Files from Margaret Thatcher’s personal archive date up until May 4, 1979, and provide detailed insights into her relationships with Conservative colleagues such as William Whitelaw, John Nott and Lord Hailsham.

This weekend’s release marks the second major release of files in the collection following the initial opening of material in November 2003.

Director of the Churchill Archives Allen Packwood said: “This is an important release of additional material from the Thatcher Papers which reinforces the material released from the collection in 2003.

̽��ֱ��Centre is grateful to the continuing support of the Margaret Thatcher Archive Trust which owns the collection on behalf of the nation.”

As well as new Scottish devolution material, which can now be seen alongside material from earlier releases, the archives contain detailed speech preparation files for the period February 1975-May 1979.

̽��ֱ��correspondence from Arthur Scargill will be of interest to historians and the public alike. A letter from Scargill, dated November 29, 1978, reads: "Dear Mrs Thatcher, I am writing to thank you for your telegram expressing condolences at the recent tragic events at Bentley Colliery. ̽��ֱ��accident was a timely reminder of the real price we all have to pay for our nation's energy. I will convey your condolence to all those at the Colliery and, once again, please accept my sincere thanks for your message. Your sincerely, Arthur Scargill.

Extracts from the files can be read at , the official website of the Margaret Thatcher Foundation, which already contains a huge online archive of original documents relating to Baroness Thatcher.

Editor of the website Chris Collins said: “Margaret Thatcher’s archive is already the most accessible of any modern politician, in the UK or beyond. Anyone, anywhere, at any time will be able to study online many thousands of detailed records of what Margaret Thatcher said, wrote and did, without leaving their own desk.”

However, any researchers who want to see the collection in person can view it by prior appointment, free of charge at Churchill College.

Charles Moore, Lady Thatcher’s authorised biographer, said: “ ̽��ֱ��Thatcher Archive is an amazing resource for all those interested in our recent past. This release will allow researchers to understand more about Margaret Thatcher’s rise to power and the development of her political thinking. It sets the scene for the study of her premiership.”