Mr. Alan WilliamsTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is the range of rents paid for all accommodation at each of the occupied royal palaces.
§ Mr. Sproat[holding answer 3 March 1994]: Rent paid by official employees of the Queen is presently set at 6 per cent. of after-tax salary wherever they are housed. This is equivalent to 7.5 per cent. of pre-tax salary—not 8.5 per cent. as stated on 9 February, Official Report, column 352. Pensioners allocated accommodation since 1 April 1991 and Crown Estate employees pay 8.5 per cent. of their gross pension or pensionable pay wherever housed.
Rents paid by the Queen's private employees and by Royal Collection Enterprises Ltd. staff are equivalent to local authority rents in the area.
Since my reply to the right hon. Member on 12 January, Official Report, column 201, about costs of accommodation borne by the Department it has been brought to my attention that in accordance with the memorandum of understanding the Department has been bearing the cost of furnishing apartments in the occupied royal palaces occupied by heads of department in the royal household.