§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many tickets are available for this year's trooping the colour; how they are being distributed; if he will list the bodies to which allocations are being made together with the number of tickets allocated in each case; how the current year's arrangements compare with those for previous years; and what is expected to be the total income from the sale of tickets.
§ Mr. LeeFurther to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Armed Forces gave to the hon. Member for Stalybridge and Hyde (Mr. Pendry) on 25 January 1985 at columns 556 and 557, the distribution of tickets for the trooping the colour ceremony is arranged by the Brigade Major, HQ Household Division, Horse Guards. The list of bodies to which allocations have been made this year is:
426W
Number HM The Queen and the Royal Households 92 Houses of Parliament 300 Diplomatic Corps 198 Ministry of Defence and Service Establishments 1,734 Other Government Departments 923 Household Division and Regiments (including those participating in Parade) 1,714 Ambassador of the United States of America 12 Lloyds Bank 6 Metropolitan Police 62 St. John's Ambulance 6 Sheriffs of the City of London 4
Number Cavalry and Guards Clubs 4 Elder Brothers of Trinity House 2 Gordon Boys School 6 Official Photographer 2 Contractor (stand erection and dismantling) 12 NAAFI 4 Army Benevolent Fund 14 Press 45 St. Dunstans 30 Ulster Defence Regiment 12 I am not able to list precise allocations for 1984 as such records are not maintained, but broadly speaking the arrangements for the allocation of tickets have not changed over the years, except that since 1984 special provision is now made for wheelchairs.
The total income from the sale of tickets based upon the revenue for the 1984 parade is expected to be in the region of £70,000. Normally about 1,500 tickets are available for sale to the general public.