HC Deb 10 November 1999 vol 337 cc641-2W
Mr. Baker

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to review the persons eligible for support under the Civil List. [97494]

Mr. Timms

[holding answer 9 November 1999]: None. The Members of the Royal Family who receive moneys are prescribed in the Civil List Acts.

Mr. Baker

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the amount each member of the Royal Family would have received under the Civil List in each year from 1991 had the 1991 figure been increased each year by the rate of inflation. [97498]

Mr. Timms

[holding answer 9 November 1999]: Details of payments under the Civil List arrangements will be provided in the Royal Trustees Report, which is due to be made by next October. Since 1 April 1993 the Queen has voluntarily reimbursed the annuities paid to Members of the Royal Family except those to Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother and The Duke of Edinburgh.

Mr. Baker

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what plans he has to review the arrangements relating to the Civil List; [97495]

(2) what assessment he has made of the appropriateness of the level of financial support provided by 1991 Civil List arrangements. [97496]

Mr. Timms

[holding answer 9 November 1999]: Under the provisions of the Civil List Act 1972, the Royal Trustees (the Prime Minister, the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Keeper of the Privy Purse) are due to report on the financial provisions of the Civil List by October next year. The report and its recommendations will be laid before the House of Commons.

Mr. Baker

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if moneys allocated to the Civil List by the 1991 arrangement which remain unspent at the end of the 10-year period will be returned to the Treasury. [97497]

Mr. Timms

[holding answer 9 November 1999]: Under the provisions of the Civil List Act 1972, unspent sums remain available to meet expenditure in future years as Parliament determined and will be taken into account by the Royal Trustees in preparing their Report.