Life events
Butler was educated at Harrow School and University College, Oxford, where he took a double first in Mods and Greats and twice gained a rugby Blue. He joined HM Treasury in 1961, becoming Private Secretary to the Financial Secretary to the Treasury 1964-6 and Secretary to the Budget Committee 1965–9.
He was seconded to the Bank of England and several City institutions in 1969 and later at HM Treasury as Assistant Secretary, General Expenditure Intelligence Division, led the team which installed the UK Government's computerised financial information system 1975–7. He had been a founder member of the Central Policy Review Staff under Lord Rothschild 1971–2. After several senior appointments at the Treasury, he became second Permanent Secretary, Public Expenditure, 1985–7.
He was Private Secretary to Prime Ministers Edward Heath 1972–4, Lord Wilson 1974–5, and Principal Private Secretary to Margaret Thatcher 1982–5. He was Cabinet Secretary during the premierships of Margaret Thatcher, John Major and Tony Blair.
Butler married Gillian Lois Galley in 1962. They have a son and two daughters.
He was made a life peer in the 1998 New Year Honours List.
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