§ Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 17 January,Official Report, column 582, if he will list for the 35 days of royal duties carried out by the royal yacht (a) the destinations, (b) the period spent at sea and (c) the members of the royal family conveyed. [11563]
§ Mr. SoamesI regret that whilst preparing the answer to this parliamentary Question, my officials found that my earlier answer of 17 January,Official Report, column 582, contained an error. In 1995 members of the royal family were embarked aboard Her Majesty's Yacht Britannia for 36 days, not 35 as previously stated.
In 1995, Britannia carried out royal duties on the following occasions:
Member(s) of the Royal Family Embarked Date Location 19–21 March Capetown Her Majesty the Queen HRH The Duke of Edinburgh 24–25 March Capetown Her Majesty the Queen HRH The Duke of Edinburgh 31 May–2 June Falmouth/Avonmouth Her Majesty the Queen HRH The Duke of Edinburgh 12–13 June Portsmouth HRH The Princess Royal 15 June Portsmouth HRH The Duke of York 19–21 June Kiel HRH The Duke and Duchess of Kent 26–27 June Dundee HRH The Prince of Wales 28 July–2 August Cowes HRH The Duke of Edinburgh 4–14 August Western Isles Her Majesty the Queen HRH The Duke of Edinburgh 18–20 August London Her Majesty the Queen HRH The Duke of Edinburgh
§ Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 17 January,Official Report, columns 582, how much was received by his Department in (a) 1994 and (b) 1995 for the use of the royal yacht for trade promotion; and from where the payments were received. [11568]
§ Mr. SoamesCharges for the use of Britannia are not levied on the sponsors of commercial events when she is used to promote British exports and attract inward investment to the United Kingdom. However, all additional costs incurred, over and above normal running costs, are paid for by the Government Departments and organisations concerned.
§ Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 17 January,Official Report, columns 582, what duties were carried out by the 534W royal yacht in 1995 during the period she was at sea but not on royal duties or trade promotion. [11569]
§ Mr. SoamesIn 1995, HMY Britannia was engaged in the following activities during the period she was in transit to or from royal duties or trade promotion:
Date Location Event 14 March Walvis Bay Her Majesty's High Commission, Namibia (lunchtime reception) 1—10 April Simon's Town Self maintenance period 10 April Simon's Town Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (lunch) 21 April Tema Overseas Development Agency (seminar and lunch) 4 October Pireaus Her Majesty's Ambassador (evening reception) 26 October Lisbon Her Majesty's Ambassador and the right hon. Douglas Hurd (dinner and evening reception)