"By long tradition, the House of Commons prohibits itself from any mention, let alone any discussion, of the monarchy or the royal family. This self-imposed gag in which a centuries-old constitutional monarchy is unable to discuss constitutional monarchy is infantilising and indefensible. The gag may, however, be loosening. This week, the Commons public accounts committee announced an inquiry into the crown estate."
"It is also a highly successful and profitable property company worth an estimated 15.5bn. Since David Cameron abolished the civil list system in 2011, the crown gets a generous and protected sovereign grant from the estate's profits each year. As the estate gets a cut of all offshore wind development, among other things, the sovereign grant has provided a royal windfall"
The House of Commons enforces a convention that forbids members from mentioning or debating the monarchy or the royal family. That self-imposed gag prevents parliamentary scrutiny of constitutional monarchy. The Commons public accounts committee launched an inquiry into the Crown Estate after reports that Prince Andrew and Prince Edward paid peppercorn rents for extensive Crown Estate properties. The Crown Estate is a statutory public body, independent of monarch and government, and a profitable property company valued around £15.5bn. The sovereign grant, funded by Crown Estate profits since 2011, will be reviewed in 2026. Treasury correspondence confirms the estate must maintain and enhance value and provide value for money.
Read at www.theguardian.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]