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Prince Charles letters: Second batch of mail published Prince Charles letters: Second batch of mail published
(about 1 hour later)
A second batch of private letters sent by the Prince of Wales to government ministers has been published.A second batch of private letters sent by the Prince of Wales to government ministers has been published.
The release of the six letters written by Prince Charles follows last month's publication of 27 "black spider memos" - so called because of his handwriting. The release of six new letters written by Prince Charles follows last month's publication of 27 "black spider memos" - so called because of his handwriting.
Clarence House said the letters, dated between 2007 and 2009, showed the range of the prince's "concerns and interests for this country and the wider world".Clarence House said the letters, dated between 2007 and 2009, showed the range of the prince's "concerns and interests for this country and the wider world".
The release of the letters follows a decade-long campaign by the Guardian. The release comes after a decade-long campaign by the Guardian newspaper.
The government's veto on publication was declared unlawful by the Court of Appeal last year - a decision which was upheld by the Supreme Court in March. The government's veto on the publication of the letters was declared unlawful by the Court of Appeal last year - a decision which was upheld by the Supreme Court in March.
A total of 17 letters, including responses from Labour government ministers, have been published. A total of 17 letters - including responses from Labour government ministers and letters sent on behalf of the prince - have now been published.
The statement from Clarence House added "The letters published by the government show the Prince of Wales expressing concern about issues that he has raised in public like affordable rural housing, the quality of hospital food, the preservation and regeneration of historic buildings, an integrated approach to healthcare, climate change, and others. Clarence House said the letters show the Prince of Wales "expressing concern about issues that he has raised in public".
"In all these cases, the Prince of Wales is raising issues of public concern, and trying to find practical ways to address the issues." "In all these cases, the Prince of Wales is raising issues of public concern, and trying to find practical ways to address the issues," a spokesman said.
The latest correspondence covers topics including hospital food, affordable rural housing and climate change.
Historic buildings
In one letter, Prince Charles revealed his upset at seeing "decaying" historic buildings - writing that it "makes me weep".
In the latter, sent in March 2008 to then Housing and Planning Minister Caroline Flint, he wrote of his "enormous frustration" over the "reluctance or inability" of councils to save historic buildings from "complete dereliction at the hands of careless private ownership".
Replying, Ms Flint said she "understood" the prince's concerns, saying such buildings were "irreplaceable".
It was a subject he returned to in June 2009, when the prince wrote to the then Culture, Media and Sport Secretary Ben Bradshaw to suggest a discussion about the regeneration of redundant buildings of historic and architectural importance.
"As many of these historic sites are often in fairly deprived areas, their re-vitalisation can make a big difference," he said.
The signature of Prince Charles is missing at the bottom of the letter, where somebody has added an arrow and the words: "Prince Charles, I think."
Complementary medicines
In a letter to Alan Johnson, then health secretary, from 19 September 2007, the prince said he "cannot bear people suffering unnecessarily when a complementary approach could make a real difference".
There should be a "whole person" approach to the treatment of illness in the UK rather than a "reductionist" focus on the ailment, he wrote.
He also raised concerns over the threat to NHS homeopathic hospitals, suggesting the government set up an "exploratory integrated health project" in England - similar to a pilot scheme in Northern Ireland.
Mr Johnson replied, saying he was "interested" to hear about the pilot, saying he would "consider your suggestion of an exploratory project in England."
Hospital food
In a further letter to Mr Johnson, dated 28 July, 2008, the prince addressed the issue of hospital food - saying NHS caterers could be linked to "farmers' hubs" to buy local produce for patients.
"This would massively reduce transport costs and food miles, while contributing greatly to local economies and to patient and pupil health, let alone reducing some of the criminal food wastage which goes on at the moment," he said.
Mr Johnson replied, saying he was "very interested" to hear about initiatives the prince had raised in London and Cornwall concerning hospital catering.
He wrote: "I would be very happy to discuss these issues and other matters with you in more detail."
Affordable housing
In August 2007, in a letter to Yvette Cooper, then housing and planning minister, the prince wrote about the "real problems" caused by trying to find an affordable home for those on low incomes in rural areas.
Many of these "are carrying out essential jobs, such as farm workers, teachers, shopkeepers and health workers... on whom the future viability of rural life depends," he said.
He highlighted the work of his Affordable Rural Housing Initiative in tackling the issue of cheaper homes for countryside workers and wrote of his support for government work on "eco towns".
Ms Cooper said she was "delighted" by his support, adding that the government was "ready to help" on issues to do with rural housing "in any way we can".