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.

1. 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.