HC Deb 02 October 1941 vol 374 cc742-3W
Mr. Emery

asked the Home Secretary whether he will, for the guidance of local authorities, issue a ruling as to whether a peer, as well as a commoner, appointed to the office by Letters Patent, should be correctly and formally described as His Majesty's Lieutenant of — and in the county of —, and whether the correct and formal style is Lord Lieutenant, etc., in the case of a commoner?

Mr. H. Morrison

The title "Lieutenant" is statutory, being used in Acts, of Parliament from the 16th century onwards, and the designation officially used in all cases in Letters Patent is "His Majesty's Lieutenant of the County of —." The style "Lord Lieutenant "is, however, commonly used colloquially and in general correspondence, and is applied to the holders of such office whether they are peers or commoners. I do not think it necessary to issue any circular on the matter but trust my answer will be sufficient guidance.

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