§ Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage for what reasons the London marathon is being charged for the use of the royal parks; and into what headings the fee is broken down.
§ Mr. KeyThe Department manages the royal parks on behalf of the Crown for the enjoyment of the public. Where an event is allowed to use the park and will significantly affect the normal use of the park by the general public, we require them to pay a fee which is calculated on the basis of the area used. The fee is not made up of specific charges under particular headings. It is levied to cover such matters as remedial works following large events, additional safety responsibilities, to compensate for disruption and to assist the parks to improve facilities for park users.