HC Deb 12 March 1996 vol 273 c556W
Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will list those members of the royal family who occupy self-contained residential accommodation on the occupied royal palaces estate. [19439]

Mr. Sproat

[holding answer Friday 8 March 19961: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 13 February, Official Report, column 547.

Mr. Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will list the names of the pensioners and the location of their accommodation within the occupied royal palaces estate. [19435]

Mr. Sproat

[holding answer 8 March 1996]There have been several retirements over the past 18 months and there are now 34 pensioners in housing maintained from the grant in aid provided by my Department.

Nine were previous stables staff or are the widows of previous stables staff, four were previously members of the domestic staff or are widows of previous members of the domestic staff, one is the sister of a previous member of the domestic staff, four were previously gatekeepers or are widows of previous gatekeepers, one is the widow of a previous curator at Hampton Court palace, 11 were previously officials in the royal household and four are grace and favour occupants.

One pensioner lives in Marlborough House mews, eight in or adjacent to the Royal mews at Windsor castle, seven in Windsor Home park, eight in Windsor Great park, nine in or near to the Royal mews at Hampton court and one in Hampton court paddocks.

Mr. Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will list the names of the grace and favour pensioners and the accommodation they have within the occupied royal palaces estate. [19434]

Mr. Sproat

[holding answer 8 March 1996]: There are four grace and favour pensioners. One is a cousin of the Queen, one is a retired principal of the foundation of St. Catherine, one is the daughter of a wartime chief of the general staff and one is a former nanny to the Queen's children.

Three of the pensioners are housed in Windsor Great park and one in Windsor Home park.