§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list for each of the last five years the organisations in(a) Lancaster and (b) the borough of Pendle that have benefited from grants and donations from the Duchy of Lancaster benevolent fund; and if he will give the amounts in each case.
§ Mr. WaldegraveThe Duchy of Lancaster benevolent fund has been maintained to provide income to be used for benevolent purposes primarily in the County Palatine. In making donations attempts have been made to distribute them fairly between the counties of Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside; although from time to time one area may appear to have received greater benefit than others. Donations have been made to causes which are known to duchy authorities and also in response to recommendations received.
Several charities who have received money from the fund in turn made donations to organisations and individuals resident in the County Palatine. Therefore an accurate reflection of precise geographical distribution of donations over the last five years would be difficult to obtain and would entail disproportionate cost.
I am, however, arranging for lists of donations made to charitable organisations within the County Palatine for the past five years to be placed in the Library of the House.
The offer I made to the hon. Gentleman in 1992 for a more detailed briefing on duchy matters remains open.