§ Mr. Michael McNair-Wilsonasked the Prime Minister whether she will list the royal palaces which are managed by the Property Services Agency; whether she will estimate these properties' current value; whether buildings and contents are covered by any form of insurance; and, where no insurance is held, whether cover has ever been sought.
§ The Prime MinisterThe Department of the Environment manages the palaces occupied by Her 225W Majesty The Queen and the royal family and the Tower of London, Hampton Court palace, those parts of Kensington palace open to the public, Kew palace and the banqueting house. No estimate of the value of these properties is 226W available. The approach to insuring such buildings, except in very special circumstances, is for the Crown to cover its own risks and outside cover has not therefore been sought in recent times.