HL Deb 28 January 1982 vol 426 c1058

3.15 p.m.

Lord Spens

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows

To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their policy towards the commercial use of the emblem of the Royal Warrant of Appointment to Her Majesty and to certain other members of the Royal Family granted to certain tradesmen.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Belstead)

My Lords, the issue of Royal Warrants of Appointment, whereby tradesmen who supply goods and services to Her Majesty and other members of the Royal Family are authorised to display the Royal Arms, or the arms of other members of the Royal Family, is the responsibility of the Lord Chamberlain and the Royal Households, and is not a matter on which it would be appropriate for the Government to express a view.

Lord Spens

My Lords, I should like to ask the Government whether they will express a view, though, on this point: If a commercial enterprise were to open up shop in, say, Paris or New York to sell only goods produced under the Royal Warrant, would the Government support, or would they frown upon, that enterprise if it started displaying the emblem of the Royal Warrant in the shop?

Lord Belstead

My Lords, that is a hypothetical question which does not admit of a direct reply.