APPENDIX 3
SUPPLEMENTARY MEMORANDUM SUBMITTED BY
THE DEPARTMENT FOR CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT (PAC 2000-2001/38)
(a) When, and why, was it decided to
stop verifying the amounts paid to the Royal Collection Trust
from receipts from visitors;
(b) who was the Department's Accounting
Officer at the time;
(c) was the decision with Ministers;
and
(d) did the Palace request this change?
(a) Certificates from the Royal Collection
Trust's auditors verifying these amounts were received up until
1997-98. The figures also appeared in the Royal Collection Trust's
Annual Report. In 1998 the Department considered that it would
be sufficient, in future, to rely upon the audited figures published
in the Trust's Annual Report to verify the amounts paid to the
Royal Collection Trust and that there was no need to receive the
certificates as well.
(b) The Department's Accounting Officer at
the time was my predecessor, Sir Hayden Phillips.
(c) The decision was not referred to Ministers
for approval.
(d) The change was made on the Department's
initiative and not requested by the Royal Household.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
17 January 2001
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