Sir James Spicer was appointed Chairman of the International Office in 1984. He was also MP for West Dorset (1974-1997) and had sat as an MEP for Wessex (1979-1984).

He had previously served as Chairman of the Conservative Group for Europe from 1975 to 1978, and as the Group's Vice-President from 1978 to 1983. He later became the first Chairman of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD). For papers relating to the WFD, see COB 7/17.