§ Margaret MoranTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will list the(a) roles and ranks, (b) purpose and (c) cost of royal appointments in (i) the UK and (ii) Bedfordshire. [91083]
§ The Prime MinisterI am replying to this question as it relates to matters for which I am responsible.
The Lord-Lieutenant of a county or metropolitan area is the permanent local representative of The Monarch. The duties of the post include attending on Royalty during official visits to the county, performing certain duties in connection with the armed forces, and making presentations of honours and awards on behalf of The Monarch. Lord-Lieutenants also play an important role in supporting and encouraging voluntary and community activities in their areas. In the shire counties the Lord-Lieutenant has leadership of the local magistracy as Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Justices of the Peace, and in carrying out the duties of the Keeper of the Rolls. There are 47 Lord-Lieutenants in England. The expenditure of Lord-Lieutenants for the financial year 2001–02 was approximately £758,700. The Lord-Lieutenant for Bedfordshire did not submit a claim for 2001–02.