HC Deb 15 March 1994 vol 239 c611W
Mr. Alan Williams

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage on how many occasions he has given the right hon. Member for Swansea, West holding answers on parliamentary questions relating to the occupied royal palaces; what has been the length of the delays before substantive answers were given; how many were answered on Fridays; and what were the reasons for the delays.

Mr. Sproat

Holding answers have been given on 12 occasions: three for two working days; five for three; two for four and one for seven working days. None was answered on a Friday. The delays occurred because the detailed information requested was such as to require significant staff time to assemble or identify.

In the one other case, where the holding answer was for a duration of 23 working days and which I answer today, the delay was caused by an oversight within my Department for which I apologise.

Mr. Alan Williams

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is the total rent received from the grace and favour accommodation in the occupied royal palaces.

Mr. Sproat

[holding answer 10 February 1994]: Rent of £69,000 per annum is received for residential accommodation in the occupied royal palaces.