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Palace letters 'should be public' Palace letters 'should be public'
(about 7 hours later)
Letters between Buckingham Palace and the government about funding for royal palaces should be made public, the Information Commissioner has said.Letters between Buckingham Palace and the government about funding for royal palaces should be made public, the Information Commissioner has said.
The Independent newspaper has won a Freedom of Information ruling after a campaign to get the documents released.The Independent newspaper has won a Freedom of Information ruling after a campaign to get the documents released.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport said lawyers were studying the ruling and it had 35 days to appeal.The Department for Culture, Media and Sport said lawyers were studying the ruling and it had 35 days to appeal.
The commissioner said publishing the correspondence, about the upkeep of the palaces, was in the public interest.The commissioner said publishing the correspondence, about the upkeep of the palaces, was in the public interest.
Details of the contents of the 100 letters and memos between members of the Royal Household and ministers are not yet known.
But the Independent says the documents will reveal the extent of the financial crisis at the palace.
'Enhance understanding''Enhance understanding'
Details of contents of the 100 letters and memos between members of the Royal Household and ministers are not yet known. It says a small number of the letters involve an application for energy-saving measures, along with money spent on security lighting and cameras.
Deputy Information Commissioner Graham Smith said the commissioner's office believed "that disclosure of the requested information would enhance public awareness and understanding of the funding and accommodation arrangements of the Royal Household and this would be in the public interest". Some of the information provides a "free and frank commentary" on the decisions taken by the DCMS, the newspaper says.
Deputy Information Commissioner Graham Smith said the commissioner's office believed "disclosure of the requested information would enhance public awareness and understanding of the funding and accommodation arrangements of the Royal Household and this would be in the public interest".
The culture department has not released the documents previously because it said it wanted to respect the confidentiality of members of the Royal Household.The culture department has not released the documents previously because it said it wanted to respect the confidentiality of members of the Royal Household.
Clearly there is a public interest in knowing the extent of royal lobbying for more public money Graham SmithRepublic
It added that to do so would also inhibit the frank exchange of views between the palace and government.It added that to do so would also inhibit the frank exchange of views between the palace and government.
Anti-monarchy campaigners Republic welcomed the decision, saying it set a "decisive precedent for more openness and transparency".
Spokesman Graham Smith said: "Clearly there is a public interest in knowing the extent of royal lobbying for more public money. We say 'well done' to the Information Commissioner for this sensible and timely decision.
"We are now demanding the government drop plans to change the Freedom of Information Act to ban disclosure of royal documents. Such a change in the law would mean the Independent would never have succeeded in getting this decision."
In June, Buckingham Palace accounts showed the Royal Family cost every person in the UK 69p in 2008, an increase of 3p on the previous year.
The total cost to the public of keeping the monarchy increased by £1.5m to £41.5m in the 2008/9 financial year.
The accounts also showed the Queen took £6m out of a reserve fund to boost her Civil List payment, which covers the costs of running the Royal household.
It was the largest sum ever drawn from the reserve, which has been built up since the 1990s.
At the time, royal correspondent Peter Hunt said it was clear from the accounts that by next year, the Queen would "have to go cap in hand" to the government for an increased income.
In time of recession and with an election looming, the royal family face difficult negotiations next year, our correspondent added.