HC Deb 15 July 1991 vol 195 c16
34. Mr. Cohen

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what proportion of his time he spent on official Duchy business in the last month.

The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Mr. Chris Patten)

I spend up to a quarter of my time carrying out my duties as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. Thanks to the hon. Gentleman getting in with his question, the percentage has increased slightly.

Mr. Cohen

As part of those duties, the Chancellor must be getting lots of representations about saving the regiment in his area. What about the regiments that run our hospitals and schools, work on our buses and trains and manufacture our goods and products? Has not the Conservative party shown that it is incapable of saving those regiments? Even without the right hon. Member for Finchley (Mrs. Thatcher) at the helm, are not the Conservatives still a monstrous regiment?

Mr. Patten

I hope that that is the end of regimental metaphors for the time being. I have had none of the representations that the hon. Gentleman suggests I have, although I have had some representations that the country should be saved from Labour's defence policy, whatever that may be.