Royal Family (Publicity Service Costs)

HC Deb 17 January 1996 vol 269 cc661-2W

Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he expects to publish the 1994–95 costs to the Central Office of Information for publicity services to the royal family. [8904]

Mr. Willetts

The COI is responsible for organising television. radio and newspaper attendance at visits by senior members of the royal family while carrying out their official duties outside London. Some 419 venues were visited in 1994–95. The COI provides appropriate briefing material for such visits and also provides a media summary service for the Queen when on official engagements overseas.

The cost of these services in 1994–95 was £354,051. These costs normally appear in the royal finance booklet. The 1994–95 costs were not available for the most recent edition of the booklet.