http://www.margaretthatcher.org/speeches/displaydocument.asp?docid=105503

"But I think we are already seeing quite a lot, but I am not quite sure where you want me to start. We did come into power with the determination to reduce the role of the state. I believe passionately in certain roles for Government, and the rest for the people. And let me perhaps sum up and put it best in this way. I believe you need very strong Government to be strong in those things which only Governments can do. And strong enough after that to leave the rest to the people because that is the essence of a free society. The freedom of the people within a just rule of law and within a democracy. So Government has to be very strong in defence. We have been so. Government has to be very strong in seeing that there are enough forces of law and order. We have increased them substantially. Government has to be very strong in trying to hold the value of your currency stable. The record of this Government and my last one on inflation is excellent and will continue. Government also has to set the framework of law in which your industries and commerce can operate. We[fo 3] have reduced many, many of the regulations which stop them really from carrying out their own function of management and enterprise. Government also has to provide certain basic social services as a safety net, and it is accepted now that we have a National Health Service, and after all you can compare my record on that with anyone else's, and that we provide the overwhelming majority of education. I've set out to see that we do those things. I've also set out to see that we do them in a way that demonstrates maximum efficiency with the money we have, and consideration for the fact that every pound we take out of people's pockets is a pound they have not got to spend on their own families, or on their own businesses. So that is the broad general philosophy and I have, I believe, been the head of a very strong Government, strong in those things, and strong equally to say over to the people for the rest because if the spirit of enterprise, of initiative, of responsibility is not still within our people, and I believe it is, then there would not be hope for the future of Britain, but I believe the character of the people of Britain has not changed."