HC Deb 21 March 1994 vol 240 cc27-8W
Mr. Gordon Prentice

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what progress is being made in compiling the inventory of works of art in the royal palaces.

Mr. Sproat

The Lord Chamberlain has stated that the inventory of the works of art in the royal palaces is making good progress and is on target for completion by the end of 1997.

Mr. Alan Williams

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) pursuant to his answer of 14 March,Official Report, column 481, what is the range of all actual rents paid at each of the royal places for all accommodation; how many heads of department in the royal household have furnishing costs paid by his Department; and how much has been spent in each of the last five years;

(2) pursuant to his answer of 15 March, Official Report, column 612, what in money terms is the range of all those actual rental payments for grace and favour accommodation in the occupied royal places; how many rents make up the £69,000; how much relates to each palace; how much of the rent is received by the Royal Household and how much by his Department; and by what criteria it is determined which rentals are paid to the Royal Household and which to the Department.

Mr. Sproat

[holding answer 18 March 1994]: The rents in respect of each palace are as follows:

£000
Buckingham Palace and Mews 8
St James's Palace 15
Kensington Palace 11
Windsor Castle and Home Park 35
69

A total of £30,000 is received by the civil list and £39,000 by the grant in aid, according to which account pays the wages. The £69,000 relates to 47 occupants who pay rent. In addition to these 47 occupants, seven occupants pay rent through deductions from wages to the Crown estate and two through deductions of £3,000 from wages to the royal collection. It would not be appropriate to disclose rents paid by individuals.

Six heads of departments have furnished accommodation provided. Costs incurred in this respect during the last five years are: 1989–90, £112,000; 1990–91, none identified; 1991–92, £99,000; 1992–93, £88,000 and 1993–94, £26,000.

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