Letter: Royalist riposte

Letter: Royalist riposte

Sir: Alan Williams MP says he was refused information on subsidised accommodation for royal employees ("More power for auditors to study royal spending", 1 May). A few weeks ago I wrote to Mr Williams to draw his attention to the secrecy which shrouds the cost of providing subsidised accommodation for officers of the House of Commons. I told him that when I asked the Palace of Westminster's public information office how many officers are provided with accommodation, and whether they pay rent, I was advised that the Serjeant-at-Arms would not make any such information available.

Mr Williams did not reply to my letter, which can only lead me to conclude that, while he wants to achieve greater openness over expenditure by Buckingham Palace, he believes that expenditure by the Palace of Westminster must not become public knowledge.

DONALD FOREMAN

Secretary, The Constitutional Monarchy Association

London E4