Question
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Lord True on 25 October (HL Deb cols 1393-4), why the (1) actual, or (2) potential, business of the King is treated differently from business owned by others.
Answer
It is a longstanding Parliamentary requirement that consent of the Sovereign is required if the bill affects the prerogative of the Crown or the hereditary revenues of the Crown, the Duchy of Lancaster, the Duchy of Cornwall or the personal property or other personal interests of the Crown. It is a procedural requirement and a decision as to whether a Bill requires consent is for the House Authorities.