We’re all in it together.....

[Jimgward]

MPs take 13 minutes to double Royal family income and approve £360m Buckingham Palace refurbishment

tiny, temporary committee of MPs set up explicitly to consider doubling the publicly funded income of the Royal Family took thirteen minutes to decide that, yes, the Royal Family should indeed have its income doubled.

The "Seventh Dedicated Legislation Committee" was only established to consider raising the so-called 'Sovereign Grant' from 15 per cent to 25 per cent of the Crown Estates income, in order to fund the estimated £360m upgrade to Buckingham Palace, and now it has done so, it will be disbanded.

Only the Scottish National Party, via its representatives Tommy Sheppard and George Kerevan objected to the decision.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/po ... 07986.html

[ApusApus]

And your point is .................. amongst many?

For example:

MPs only take 13 minutes to make a decision;
The Royal family income is doubled;
£360m BP refurbishment is approved;
The Sovereign Grant was increased to 25% from 13%;
The Seventh Dedicated Legislation Committee will be disbanded;
The SNP objected to the decision;
The Royal Family's net contribution to the UK economy was around £1.155 billion for the year 2015?


Shane

[Jimgward]

My point was initially to highlight this....

If your asking my opinion....

Then it’s shocking. When we refurbish Westminster, should all MPs have their salaries doubled?

The contribution of the Royal family is disputed. France, with no royals, have more visitors to Versaille and other palaces, than in the UK.
Visitors to the UK want to see the history, palaces etc, and Queenie is a nice wee addition, but they wont see her....

As to the siblings......

[Dominic]

The way I read it, the money is to pay for the refit. MPs aren't being asked to pay for the refit to the House of Commons.

[Kili01]

Buckingham Palace is owned by the State and is used by the Queen when she is in London. It is used for a lot of official functions. If you read the UK newspapers or watch the UK news programmes on TV, you would know that the last time that the Palace was updated is a very long time ago. I seem to recall that essential services like electricic and plumbing for example are iin dire need of maintenance/ upgrading. Also general maintenance of all kinds is needed.it is only right that the Govt foots the bill from the income of the crown estates.
The Queen maintains all the private residences, I think, like Windsor Castle, Balmoral and Sandringham.
Dee

[William Morris]

If you are asking my opinion .......

It is money well spent.

The Queens sibling, Princess Margaret, sadly passed away some years ago.

[josef k]

I think we know what names will be appearing in the next honours list, don't we.