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Royal Yacht

Volume 270: debated on Monday 29 January 1996

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To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 17 January, Official Report, column 582, if he will list for the 35 days of royal duties carried out by the royal yacht (a) the destinations, (b) the period spent at sea and (c) the members of the royal family conveyed. [11563]

I regret that whilst preparing the answer to this parliamentary Question, my officials found that my earlier answer of 17 January, Official Report, column 582, contained an error. In 1995 members of the royal family were embarked aboard Her Majesty's Yacht Britannia for 36 days, not 35 as previously stated.In 1995, Britannia carried out royal duties on the following occasions:

Member(s) of the Royal Family Embarked
DateLocation
19–21 MarchCapetownHer Majesty the Queen
HRH The Duke of Edinburgh
24–25 MarchCapetownHer Majesty the Queen
HRH The Duke of Edinburgh
31 May–2 JuneFalmouth/AvonmouthHer Majesty the Queen
HRH The Duke of Edinburgh
12–13 JunePortsmouthHRH The Princess Royal
15 JunePortsmouthHRH The Duke of York
19–21 JuneKielHRH The Duke and Duchess of Kent
26–27 JuneDundeeHRH The Prince of Wales
28 July–2 AugustCowesHRH The Duke of Edinburgh
4–14 AugustWestern IslesHer Majesty the Queen
HRH The Duke of Edinburgh
18–20 AugustLondonHer Majesty the Queen
HRH The Duke of Edinburgh

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 17 January, Official Report, columns 582, how much was received by his Department in (a) 1994 and (b) 1995 for the use of the royal yacht for trade promotion; and from where the payments were received. [11568]

Charges for the use of Britannia are not levied on the sponsors of commercial events when she is used to promote British exports and attract inward investment to the United Kingdom. However, all additional costs incurred, over and above normal running costs, are paid for by the Government Departments and organisations concerned.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 17 January, Official Report, columns 582, what duties were carried out by the royal yacht in 1995 during the period she was at sea but not on royal duties or trade promotion. [11569]

In 1995, HMY Britannia was engaged in the following activities during the period she was in transit to or from royal duties or trade promotion:

DateLocationEvent
14 MarchWalvis BayHer Majesty's High Commission, Namibia (lunchtime reception)
1—10 AprilSimon's TownSelf maintenance period
10 AprilSimon's TownSecretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (lunch)
21 AprilTemaOverseas Development Agency (seminar and lunch)
4 OctoberPireausHer Majesty's Ambassador (evening reception)
26 OctoberLisbonHer Majesty's Ambassador and the right hon. Douglas Hurd (dinner and evening reception)