Duchy Council (Hansard, 1 March 1994)

§ Mr. Gordon Prentice
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when Sir Simon Towneley last attended a meeting of the Duchy Council.

§ Mr. Waldegrave
On 21 February 1994. I refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave him on attendance at meetings of the Duchy Council on 23 February,Official Report, column 252. Sir Simon Towneley's name was omitted from that list in eror. His attendance record is 100 per cent.

§ Mr. Gordon Prentice
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to his oral answer of 14 February,Official Report, column 664, what specialist expertise is brought to the Council of the Duchy of Lancaster by the Lord-Lieutenant of Lancashire.

§ Mr. Waldegrave
Sir Simon Towneley has a long record of public service to the county. He also has personal experience of estate management maters and has served for over 30 years as a member of the Agricultural Lands Tribunal. His knowledge and experience range over a variety of relevant subjects and are of benefit to the Duchy Council.

§ Mr. Gordon Prentice
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will consider appointing to the Council of the Duchy of Lancaster one or more hon. Members who represent Lancashire constituencies.

§ Mr. Waldegrave
No. The Duchy is not a political institution and the Chancellor of the Duchy is not acting in a political capacity in the conduct of its affairs. Representation of a Lancashire constituency would not of itself constitute a criteria for membership of the Council.

§ Mr. Gordon Prentice
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps he takes to ensure that members of the Duchy Council who are absent from meetings are kept abreast of matters coming before the Council and of its recommendations and advice to him.

§ Mr. Waldegrave
Members of the Duchy Council receive a written report from the Duchy Office prior to meetings and minutes of the meetings after they have taken place.