HC Deb 06 March 1978 vol 945 cc969-70
48. Mr. William Hamilton

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on how many occasions he has visited the Duchy in the last 12 months; and what were the purposes of such visits.

The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Mr. Harold Lever)

I frequently find myself in Duchy territory, among other reasons because my constituency lies within the Duchy. I rarely find it necessary to enter the Duchy specifically on Duchy business.

Mr. Hamilton

Is it not time that my right hon. Friend did? Does he notice from the last accounts of the Duchy that the owner took £445,000 tax-free, compared with £415,000 tax-free the year before? How does my right hon. Friend think that that conforms with the Government's prices and incomes policy?

Mr. Lever

I am afraid that my presence in the Duchy territory is not necessary to control the Duchy's accounts.

Mr. Hamilton

I think that it is.

Mr. Lever

I do not think that my hon. Friend would be gratified if I spent my time in Duchy territory rather than here to answer these questions.

Mr. Hamilton

I think so, yes.

Mr. Lever

In the second part of his supplementary question, my hon. Friend takes the figures which he cites as referring to Her Majesty's personal expenditure. That, of course, is not the case.

49. Mr. Tim Renton

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will detail the number of staff employed in the administration of the Duchy at the end of 1977, 1975 and 1973, and their total emoluments in each of those years.

Mr. Lever

The number of such staff has remained unchanged at 11 in each of the years mentioned, and I shall publish details of their salary costs in the Official Report. The Duchy follows Civil Service rates of pay, and all increases in this period have been in accord with Government pay policy.

Mr. Renton

From those interesting figures, does the Chancellor of the Duchy conclude that the Duchy represents a very successful family business, which has been handed down, by and large, from father to son since 1399? From his experience as its Chancellor, and from his experience as a successful business man himself, what guidance and help does the right hon. Gentleman have to offer to other family businesses which have been somewhat less fortunate?

Mr. Lever

I am not sure that the Duchy falls within my remit as co-ordinator in relation to small businesses, and I cannot say that it is to be regarded as a family business. I think that it could rightly be seen to be a family estate related to—

Mr. William Hamilton

Feudal monopoly.

Mr. Lever

—related to the Royal Family. I like to believe that there are sermons in stones and lessons in trees, but I cannot derive great guidance in relation to small business activity from the Duchy work itself. The Duchy, I am satisfied, is very well run as a Royal estate in a manner which is pretty widely understood. As regards small businesses, I shall seek what inspiration I can from my Duchy duties and any other duties which are assigned to me.

Following is the information:

£
1976–77 … … … 62,899
1974–75 … … … 52,675
1972–73 … … … 31,690

These figures include national insurance contributions and relate to the financial years of the Duchy which ended on 29th September.