§ Mr. David YoungTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what proportion of the cost of security arrangements at the royal palaces fell on the Exchequer, including police and Army wages, in the last year for which figures are available;
(2) who is operationally responsible for overseeing security at royal palaces; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HowardOperational responsibility for overseeing security at the royal palaces and residences rests with the chief officer of police concerned. Within the Metropolitan police district all aspects of royalty protection are the responsibility of a deputy assistant commissioner who reports directly to the Commissioner. The effectiveness of the arrangements made for royalty protection is examined regularly by the standing group for monitoring royalty protection which was established in 1982 and reports to me from time to time. For security reasons, it would not be right to give a breakdown of the costs involved, but I can confirm that nearly all the costs incurred fall to the Exchequer.