§ Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what are the reasons for the 30 per cent. increase in the annuity payable to Princess Anne;
(2) how much of the £19,600 increase in the annuity to be paid to Princess Anne is attributable to the upkeep of Gatcombe Park.
§ Sir Geoffrey Howe[pursuant to his reply, 2 April 1980, c. 248]: The increase in Princess Anne's annuity reflects (i) provision for the higher costs of carrying out official duties and (ii) the costs of essential maintenance to the Princess's official residence, including security arrangements recommended by the police. The allowance made for higher costs—including in particular the full year impact on the costs of her official staff of the 1979 Civil Service pay settlement, the last stage of which was implemented from 1 January 1980—is fully consistent with comparable allowances made in fixing the central Government cash limits. About £9,000 of the total is attributable to the upkeep of Gatcombe Park, of which a third relates to work done in 1979.
§ Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the reasons for the increase from £102,700 to £135,000 in the annuity of Prince Philip.
§ Sir Geoffrey Howe[pursuant to his reply, 2 April 1980, c. 248]: The increase in Prince Philip's annuity reflects (i) the higher costs of carrying out official duties, and (ii) the costs of stationery and other materials previously met from the Stationery and Printing Vote—Class XIV Vote 3 in 1979–80 Supply Estimates—accounted for by Her Majesty's Stationery Office as an allied service, but now—in the same way as the comparable cost incurred by Government Departments—transferred to a repayment basis. The allowance made for higher costs—including in particular the full year impact on the costs of his official staff of the 1979 Civil Service pay settlement, the last stage of which was implemented from 1 January 1980—is fully consistent with comparable allowances made in fixing the central Government cash limits.
§ Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a 521W statement on the reasons for the increase in the annuity payable to Princess Margaret to £82,000 for 1980–81.
§ Sir Geoffrey Howe[pursuant to his reply, 2 April 1980, c. 248]: The increase in Princess Margaret's annuity is required to cover the higher costs of carrying out official duties. The allowance made for higher costs—including in particular the full year impact on the costs of her official staff of the 1979 Civil Service pay settlement, the last stage of which was implemented from 1 January 1980—is fully consistent with comparable allowances made in fixing the central Government cash limits.
§ Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what have been the payments made from the Duchy of Lancaster to the Keeper of the Privy Purse, for Her Majesty's use, in 1977–78 and in 1978–79; and how much of the increase comes from the Duchy's rent income.
§ Sir Geoffrey Howe[pursuant to his reply, 2 April 1980, c. 249]: Payments made from the Duchy of Lancaster to the Keeper of the Privy Purse—for Her Majesty's use—were £485,000 in 1977–78 and £626,500 in 1978–79. These payments are not directly related to any particular head of the Duchy's receipts.