Asked by: Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat - Lewes)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Government plans to provide (a) funding and (b) other support for a reception hosted by HRH The Duke of York at the World Economic Forum to be held in Davos from 21 to 24 January 2015.
Answered by Andrea Leadsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
There has never been a cost to HM Government for the reception hosted by HRH The Duke of York at Davos.
Asked by: Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat - Lewes)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many gifts from members of the public were made for the purpose of reducing the national debt in each of the last three years; what the (a) nature and (b) value of each gift was; whether it is his policy to encourage such donations; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Andrea Leadsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Given below is a list of gifts from members of the public made for the purpose of reducing the national debt in each of the last three years, with the nature and value of each gift. Over the last three years there have been 39 such gifts; 16 in 12/13, 16 in 13/14, and 7 in 14/15. The Treasury is a passive receiver of donations and bequests. It does not actively pursue possible donations.
Year 2013-14 | |||
12.18 | 24-Feb-14 | Unknown | |
200.00 | 19-Feb-14 | Gift | |
15.00 | 10-Feb-14 | Gift | |
3.87 | 16-Jan-14 | Unknown | |
1.99 | 02-Dec-13 | Unknown | |
40.00 | 21-Nov-13 | Gift | |
2.94 | 14-Oct-13 | Unknown | |
336,356.53 | 27-Sep-13 | Bequest | |
0.78 | 03-Sep-13 | Unknown | |
420,576.00 | 23-Aug-13 | Bequest | |
120.00 | 20-Aug-13 | Unknown | |
6.77 | 05-Aug-13 | Unknown | |
1.99 | 03-Jun-13 | Unknown | |
41,571.79 | 30-Apr-13 | Bequest | |
Total | 799,389.84 | ||
Year 2012-13 | |||
284,964.00 | 28-Mar-13 | Bequest | |
1,988.20 | 05-Mar-13 | Bequest | |
41.91 | 18-Feb-13 | Unknown | |
3.06 | 04-Feb-13 | Unknown | |
8.84 | 31-Jan-13 | Unknown | |
1.99 | 03-Dec-12 | Unknown | |
7,000.00 | 06-Nov-12 | Bequest | |
0.04 | 30-Oct-12 | Unknown | |
0.07 | 30-Oct-12 | Unknown | |
101,946.98 | 24-Oct-12 | Bequest | |
1.75 | 01-Jun-13 | Unknown | |
0.08 | 01-Jun-12 | Unknown | |
0.08 | 01-Jun-12 | Unknown | |
0.08 | 01-Jun-12 | Unknown | |
Total | 406,607.08 | ||
Year 2011-12 | |||
120.00 | 29-Mar-12 | Unknown | |
18,478.49 | 14-Dec-11 | Bequest | |
1.99 | 01-Dec-11 | Unknown | |
6.72 | 22-Sep-11 | Unknown | |
1.61 | 19-Sep-11 | Unknown | |
4.45 | 19-Sep-11 | Unknown | |
42.80 | 19-Sep-11 | Unknown | |
5.61 | 20-Jul-11 | Unknown | |
7.80 | 14-Jul-11 | Unknown | |
1.44 | 05-Jul-11 | Unknown | |
1.26 | 05-Jul-11 | Unknown | |
0.11 | 05-Jul-11 | Unknown | |
17.06 | 28-Jun-11 | Unknown | |
0.01 | 02-Jun-11 | Unknown | |
1.99 | 01-Jun-11 | Unknown | |
0.01 | 10-May-11 | Unknown | |
0.38 | 05-May-11 | Unknown | |
1,416.93 | 04-May-11 | Bequest | |
Total | 21,183.66 |
Asked by: Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat - Lewes)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much has been received by the Sovereign in each of the last 30 years as a result of people (a) dying intestate and (b) making specific bequests in favour of the Sovereign in the Duchy of Lancaster.
Answered by Danny Alexander
The Sovereign has received no direct benefit from bona vacantia since 1988. The Privy purse benefited by £339k in 1984/85, £468k in 1985/86, £418k in 1986/87 and £497k in 1987/88.
Since 1988 proceeds from bona vacantia have been used to pay late claims and the balance has been divided between three charities established to receive these funds which are the Duchy of Lancaster Benevolent Fund (supporting charities within the County Palatine or where the Duchy has landed or historical interests in England and Wales), the Jubilee Trust (which supports The Queen's Chapel of the Savoy and other heritage buildings owned by the Duchy) and the Duke of Lancaster Housing Trust (which provides rural affordable housing).
b). The Duchy has not kept a record of any specific bequests in favour of the Duchy in the course of the last 30 years. If such a bequest were to be received, and in the absence of specific conditions attached to it, it is highly likely that the funds would be transferred to one of these Duchy charities.
Asked by: Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat - Lewes)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will place in the Library copies of the bank statements of the donations and bequests account held by the Commissioner for the Reduction of the National Debt at the Bank of England in the last 10 years.
Answered by Andrea Leadsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government believes it would not be appropriate to provide daily bank statements to the House Library for both efficiency and confidentiality reasons, but will provide copies of the annual accounts for the Donations & Bequests Fund for the past 10 years.