§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many individuals(a) in the Duchy of Lancaster and (b) in the constituency of Pendle die intestate in each year since 1982; and what was the total value of the estate claimed by the Crown in each year.
§ Mr. WaldegraveThe solicitor for the affairs of the Duchy of Lancaster is appointed to administer the estates of persons whose last permanent address was within the boundaries of the county palatine of Lancaster who die intestate and without surviving kin entitled to the estate under the rules of intestate succession. The boundaries of the county palatine are the same as the county boundaries which existed prior to local government reorganisation in 1973.
Intestate estates 1982 to 1991 Number of cases Total amount claimed (£) 1981–82 456 540,185.52 1982–83 463 747,058.28 1983–84 453 734,664.12 1984–85 455 748,154.93 1985–86 462 821,697.50 1986–87 462 921,513.00 1987–88 386 672,679.68 1988–89 391 754,241.67 1989–90 411 960,671.80 1990–91 398 799,872.54 7,691,739.04 Unfortunately records do not show the number of cases arising in each year within any particular part of the county palatine.
There are a number of cases each year where kin who are entitled under the intestacy rules traced after administration is complete and in those cases the value of the estate plus interest is paid from Duchy funds to the relative concerned.