Consultations & legislation
Sovereign Grant Act
The Sovereign Grant Bill was introduced to Parliament on 30 June 2011. On 18 October 2011 it passed into law, and became the Sovereign Grant Act 2011. The Act provides new arrangements to support the Sovereign in Her official duties. The arrangements are intended to move from the current Civil List arrangements which are reign-specific to a more permanent regime.
In summary, the Sovereign Grant Act provides for:
- new consolidated Sovereign Grant payment to support HM The Queen in Her official duties;
- full parliamentary approval and scrutiny of grant expenditure;
- continuation and modernisation of support to the heir to the throne;
- continuation of grant arrangements on accession of a new monarch; and
- rationalisation of payments to annuitants
Act announcement and progress
The Act’s progress through Parliament is documented on Parliament’s website:
And additional background information can be found here:
- Sovereign Grant Bill – Further background information provided to Members of Parliament in advance of the Bill’s Second Reading Debate on 14 July 2011 (PDF 119KB)
- Press notice 70/11: Government publishes Bill to reform grants for Royal Household 30 June 2011
- Chancellor's statement, opening the Debate on Resolutions for the Sovereign Grant Bill 30 June 2011
- Letter fom the Keeper of the Privy Purse to the Chancellor of the Exchequer on Parliamentary Annuities: Reimbursement Arrangements 29 June 2011 (PDF 212KB)
Main provisions in the Sovereign Grant Act
Sovereign’s Gracious Message
Gracious Messages from the Sovereign were sent to each House of Parliament on 29 June 2011 about legislation to make financial provision for the Royal Household. The message indicates the Sovereign’s agreement to Parliament considering making the type of provision described in it.
- Her Majesty’s Gracious Message to the House of Commons (PDF 102KB)
- Her Majesty’s Gracious Message to the House of Lords (PDF 68KB)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Memorandum of Understanding on Royal Taxation
The Memorandum of Understanding about how Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales pay tax voluntarily on income that would otherwise not be taxable has been revised. Without making any material change, the text now takes account of the Sovereign Grant Act 2011.
External links
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