Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the role of Counsellors of State; who are the present holders of this office; under what legislation they operate; and how the current office holders can be changed.

Section 6 of the Regency Act 1937 provides for a power to delegate Royal functions to Counsellors of State in the event of the Sovereign being either overseas, or intended to be overseas, or in the event of illness (stopping short of incapacity).

The Regency Act itself specifies that the Counsellors of State shall be the wife or husband of the Sovereign (if the Sovereign is married), and the four persons who are next in the line of succession to the Crown.

Changes to the list of those who can be appointed as Counsellors of State would require amending the Regency Act.