§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were the costs for the last two years and what are the estimated costs for the current year and the next two years of(a) the royal yacht, (b) the Queen's flight, (c) royal flights in civil aircraft and (d) equerries. [18049]
§ Mr. SoamesActual and estimated expenditure in support of the royal family borne by my Department on class I votes is as follows:
£ thousands 1992–93 1993–94 1994–951 1995–962 Royal yacht 8,361 8,397 11,090 8,411 Queen's Flight3 7,590 9,105 8,893 n/a Royal flights in civil aircraft 9 140 160 480 Equerries 170 316 319 292 Notes: 1 Current forecast of outturn. 2 Amount included within the Class I 1995–96 Supply Estimates presented to the House on 23 March 1995. 3 Total operating cost. The Queen's Flight has not been used exclusively by the Royal Family, and it would not therefore be possible to allocate expenditure to users without disproportionate cost. On 1 April the Queen's Flight was merged with 32 Squadron to become No. 32 (The Royal) Squadron. A disaggregated element of the cost of royal flying is being established. We do not publish detailed future plans, as approval to commit expenditure is subject to formal endorsement through Ministers and the parliamentary supply system. Figures for 1996–97 are therefore not yet available.