Accommodation At Kensington Palace

EDM number 644 in 2000-01, proposed by Alan Williams on 08/05/2001.

That this House notes that members of the Royal Family who perform duties in support of the Monarch receive accommodation in the Occupied Royal Palaces free of rent; notes that Prince Michael of Kent provides no such service; observes that parliamentary replies to the Right honourable Member for Swansea West say he enjoys rent-free accommodation in Kensington Palace consisting of seven bedrooms and nine reception rooms; also notes that from 1979 to 1996 he made no financial contribution to property maintenance costs, but that since 1994 he has made a contribution to these costs which, adjusted for inflation, today stands merely at ú68 per week; reflects that this may cause deep concern to the taxpayers who pay for these palaces when they think of the burden their own rents or mortgages impose on their families; regards the apparent extravagance of indulging this non-working member of the Royal Family cannot be justified; and calls on the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport to consider whether grant-in-aid is appropriate if it is to be so used.

This motion has been signed by a total of 17 MPs.