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Royal Family taxpayer funding to double over next 10 years Royal Family taxpayer funding to double over next 10 years
(35 minutes later)
The Government has announced that spending on the royal family will almost double over the next decade.The Government has announced that spending on the royal family will almost double over the next decade.
The hike will help pay for renovations to Buckingham Palace, which are predicted to cost £369 million, according to the Royal Household. The hike will help pay for renovations to Buckingham Palace, which are predicted to cost £369 million, according to the Royal Household.
Master of the Queen's Household Tony Johnstone-Burt said the phased works offered the "best value for money" while keeping the palace functioning. Master of the Queen's Household Tony Johnstone-Burt said the phased works offered the "best value for money", while keeping the palace functioning.
“We take the responsibility that comes with receiving these public funds extremely seriously indeed," he said.“We take the responsibility that comes with receiving these public funds extremely seriously indeed," he said.
"Equally, we are convinced that by making this investment in Buckingham Palace now we can avert a much more costly and potentially catastrophic building failure in the years to come.”"Equally, we are convinced that by making this investment in Buckingham Palace now we can avert a much more costly and potentially catastrophic building failure in the years to come.”
For the duration of the work the Queen is expected to remain in residence, although temporary accomodation for will be built on the grounds for the 37 staff who live there. The Queen is expected to remain in residence for the duration of the work, although temporary accommodation will be built on the grounds for the 37 staff who live there.
The works are due to begin in April, but the funding change will require MPs' approval. Works are due to begin in April, but the funding change will require MPs' approval.
At a time of cuts and pay freezes to the public sector, the move is likely to be controversial.At a time of cuts and pay freezes to the public sector, the move is likely to be controversial.
After the announcement the anti-monarchy group Republic tweeted: "Royal attitude always the same: it's theirs to use and ours to pay for. Time we took the palace back and turned it into a world class museum."
Renovators will replace around 100 miles of electrical cabling 30 miles of water pipes, 6,500 electrical sockets, 5,000 light fitting and 2,500 radiators.Renovators will replace around 100 miles of electrical cabling 30 miles of water pipes, 6,500 electrical sockets, 5,000 light fitting and 2,500 radiators.
In 2014, the Public Accounts Committee found that the Royal Houshold had mismanaged its finances.
"The Household needs to get better at planning and managing its budgets for the longer term," Margaret Hodge MP, chair of the committee at the time said in a statement.
Occupied royal palaces are held in trust for the nation by the Queen — but the cost of maintaining them falls on the government.Occupied royal palaces are held in trust for the nation by the Queen — but the cost of maintaining them falls on the government.
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