Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1962-1992 / (Creation)
Level of description
Fonds
Extent and medium
2.632 cubic metres (92 boxes).
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Keith Raffan (1949-) was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, and was educated at Robert Gordon's College, Aberdeen, Trinity College, Glenalmond, and Corpus Christi, Cambridge. He was the Conservative MP for the Delyn division of Clwyd from June 1983 until his retirement from the Commons in April 1992. He had previously stood as the Conservative candidate for Dulwich in February 1974 and for East Aberdeenshire in October 1974. He served as the National Chairman of Pressure for Economic and Social Toryism (PEST), 1970-1974. As an MP, he took a particular interest in drug abuse (introducing the Controlled Drugs (Penalties) Act in 1985), regional policy, tourism, Welsh affairs, Europe and British-American relations. He was one of the MPs known as the 'Dirty Dozen' for campaigning for Michael Heseltine in the 1990 Conservative party leadership contest. He resigned as an MP in 1992 because of his strong commitment to Europe and a Scottish Parliament. He took up a career in public relations in the United States, before returning to Britain as a television presenter for HTV Wales, and then joining the Liberal Democrat Party. He was elected as the Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife in May 1999, becoming the Liberal Democrat spokesman on finance, social inclusion, the voluntary sector and drugs. He resigned from the Scottish Parliament in 2005.
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Donated by Mr Raffan in three groups in November 1991, March 1992 and April 1992.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Papers of Keith Raffan, mainly subject files, including files on abortion, 1981-1990; agriculture, 1985-1992; Bagillt floods, 1985-1991; British Rail, 1984-1992; coal, 1982-1992; Clwyd County Council, 1983-1991; community charge, 1983-1989; companies, 1986-1992; Conservative Central Office for Wales, 1983-1992; Courtaulds, 1983-1989; Delyn Borough Council, 1981-1992; drugs, 1984- 1988; education, 1983-1992; Europe, 1982-1990; Flint By-Pass,1987-1992; Hamilton Oil, 1991-1992; health and the National Health Service; 1983-1991; Holywell By-Pass and Inner Relief Road, 1983-1987; Lab-Lib Party Alliance, 1982-1990 (including alternative to the Poll Tax); local associations, 1983-1992; Local Government, 1975-1990; London and Cardiff Conservative Central Offices, 1987-1988; ministerial correspondence 1984-1990; Conservative Associations correspondence, 1985-1989; Parliamentary papers, 1983-1992; open cast mining, 1986-1992; pensions, 1987-1991; police, 1983-1987; Prestatyn Town Council, 1983-1990; rates, 1983-1987; Rhuddlan Borough Council, 1983-1991; roads, 1986-1989; Sunday trading, 1985-1991; teachers' pay dispute and unions, 1985-1992; television broadcasting policy, 1983-1992; University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, 1985-1989; Welsh Members of Parliament, Welsh Grand Committee and Committee on Welsh Affairs, Welsh Office,1981- 1993; Young Conservatives March 1983-1992; Pressure for Economic and Social Toryism (PEST), 1956-1974; speech notes, [?1974]-1992, relating to Devolution, 1975-1989, Welsh Water, 1983-1991, Welsh Language, 1990-1992; and press releases, 1983-1992. There is also a series of files mainly of correspondence on a wide range of subjects, arranged alphabetically by subject.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Action: All records donated to the National Library of Wales have been retained..
Accruals
Accruals are not expected.
System of arrangement
Arranged by date of deposit, and then alphabetically within each deposit.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Readers consulting modern papers in the National Library of Wales are required to sign the 'Modern papers - data protection' form.
Conditions governing reproduction
Usual copyright regulations apply.
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script notes
English.
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
A hard copy of the catalogue is available at the National Library of Wales. The catalogue can be accessed online.
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Note
Title compiled from content of fonds.
Alternative identifier(s)
Virtua system control number
Project identifier
Access points
Subject access points
- Political parties -- Great Britain.
- Abortion -- Government policy -- Great Britain.
- Coal mines and mining -- Wales, North.
- Health services administration -- Wales.
- Police -- Great Britain.
- Taxation -- Law and legislation -- Wales.
- Television broadcasting -- Wales.
- Welsh language -- Government policy -- Wales.
- Agriculture and politics -- Wales.
- Drug abuse -- Social aspects -- Wales.
- Floods -- Wales -- Bagillt.
- Pensions -- Law and legislation -- Wales.
- Sunday legislation -- Wales.
- Mold (Wales).
- Great Britain -- Politics and government.
- Decentralization in government -- Wales
Place access points
Name access points
- British Rail (Firm). (Subject)
- British/Greek Parliamentary Group. (Subject)
- British/Italian Parliamentary Group. (Subject)
- Clwyd (Wales). County Council. (Subject)
- Delyn (Wales). Borough Council. (Subject)
- Halkyn (Wales). Community Council. (Subject)
- Pressure for Economic and Social Toryism. (Subject)
- Prestatyn (Wales). Town Council. (Subject)
- Rhuddlan (Wales). Borough Council. (Subject)
- University College of Wales (Aberystwyth, Wales). (Subject)
- Great Britain. Welsh Office. (Subject)
- Great Britain. National Health Service. (Subject)
- Welsh Conservatives (Political party). (Subject)
- Welsh Water Authority. (Subject)
- Raffan, Keith, 1949- -- Archives. (Subject)
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Description follows ANW guidelines based on ISAD(G) 2nd ed.;AACR2; and LCSH
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
March 2003.
Language(s)
- English
Script(s)
Sources
Archivist's note
Compiled by Seri Crawley for the ANW Project. The following sources were used for the preparation of the description: NLW, Schedule of Keith Raffan Papers; Scottish Liberal Democrats website (www.scotlibdems.org.uk/biographies/raffank.htm; gdl.cdlr.strath.ac.uk/aspect/sld/sldregmid1c.jpg), viewed 21 March 2003;