The U.K. government has released the 27 controversial "black spider" letters, sent by Charles, Prince of Wales, to ministers in the government of Tony Blair from 2004 to 2005. The letters got their name from the Prince's scrawled handwriting. Parts of the documents have been redacted.
For today's news on the release of the letters, read here.
Talking to the PM
Corresponded with: prime minister Tony Blair
Issues discussed: Replacing military helicopters for Britain’s mission in Iraq; agriculture; the British beef industry; badger culling
On health
Corresponded with: John Reid, secretary of state for health
Issues discussed: Herbal medicine and acupuncture; the
development site of the Cherry Knowles hospital
On the environment
Corresponded with: Elliot Morley, minister of state for the environment
Issues discussed: Illegal fishing
On charity
Corresponded with: Patricia Hewitt, secretary of state for trade and industry
Issues discussed: Funding for a charity group founded by the Prince, In Kind Direct
On education
Corresponded with: Charles Clarke and Ruth Kelly, secretaries of state for education
Issues discussed: School nutrition; summer schools
On cultural heritage
Corresponded with: Tessa Jowell, secretary of state for culture
Issues discussed: Proposed demolition of part of London’s Smithfield Market; the future of huts built by Antarctic explorers Robert Falcon Scott and Ernest Shackleton; invitation to a conference organized by one of the Prince’s charities
On Northern Ireland
Corresponded with: Paul Murphy, secretary of state for the Northern Ireland office
Issues discussed: Saving the site of Northern Ireland’s historic Armagh Gaol building