Sovereign Grant Bill

Stephen Phillips Excerpts

Thursday 14th July 2011 Commons Chamber

[Stephen Phillips (Sleaford and North Hykeham) (Con)]

rose—

[The First Deputy Chairman of Ways and Means (Mr Nigel Evans)]

Is the hon. Member for Gainsborough (Mr Leigh) giving way, or has he sat down?

[Mr Leigh]

My hon. and learned Friend the Member for Sleaford and North Hykeham (Stephen Phillips) is desperate to get in, so I give way to him.

[Stephen Phillips]

I am not sure that I have ever been desperate to get into anything. I think it was in 2005, when my hon. Friend was the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, that the Committee published a report, which he will probably remember, that drew attention to a potential conflict of interest between the Duke of Cornwall and future Dukes of Cornwall. That is not addressed at all in the Bill. Does he share my hope that my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer will deal with that point in his wind-up, and that the Government will look at the issue in future?

[Mr Leigh]

That is a serious and important point. We have had mention of the Duchy of Cornwall; I should say that we did some trailblazing work in our hearing about the duchy. The hon. Member for Glasgow South West will remember that we ranged widely over all aspects of its management. One of the issues that we raised was whether we should maximise resources—income and capital—for the present Duke of Cornwall, or for future generations. I hope that the Chancellor can also reply to that point when he winds up.