Charlie and the Money factory

[Gromit]

Details of about £80bn of spending on items over £25,000 have been published online as part of what ministers call their "transparency agenda".

It reveals that Prince Charles got a cheque from the Ministry of Justice for £667,000 - rent for Dartmoor prison, which is on his land. He was also paid £677,000 by the Army for access to Dartmoor.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11792894

I wonder how many bullet proof jackets that would have bought?

[dotty.]

They are large pieces of land, he happens to own them and has done for a long time now, how much per square metre does it work out at? I think it has to be linked to the going rate in that part of the country.

[B00]

If I owned land and was leasing it to someone, i'd want paying for it too. Are you suggesting he should give them up as freebies?

[sandyRoe]

Would we want to see our Royal family reduced to the status of some of their European cousins, riding about on bicycles?

[jackthehat]

I think that's the general thrust of the argument, B00..

[B00]

I don't understand why jack to be honest.

He owns it- so therefore if it's leased by someone they should pay rent for it- right?

[dotty.]

http://www.uklanddire...rg.uk/land-prices.asp

[dotty.]

one and a half acres of grazing pasture with no chance of planning permission and no utilities is valued at £40K.

[jackthehat]

If it isn't owned by MoJ, they would have to pay rent to 'whomever' does own it.
Naturally, the fact that Prince Charles owns it hands a rather large stick to some people.

Isn't the 'exchange-rate' usually in 'baby-incubators' ?

[boxtops]

I must admit, when Cornwall flooded last week and Cameron immediately offered Government help, whether Charlie would come to the aid of "his people" - he gets the revenues from the Duchy, IMO it would be very reasonable for him to put something back in their time of need.

[dotty.]

Actually, the income from the estate will be used to fund the upcoming Royal Wedding, thereby saving the tax payer the burden.
http://www.duchyofcornwall.org/

[Innovation]

Why are there so many apologists for these parasites?

It's all about take, take, take, with nothing in return!

[dotty.]

Yeah innovation, can you back up that point of view? Simple google links will do.

[karenmac60]

How did he come to own the land? Was it hard work and good investments or did mummy give him it? Why should these people have everything handed to them just because of some accident of birth?

[dotty.]

He inherited it when it was a burden on the country and with a very poor return, he put the right people in the right jobs and turned it into one of the best run businesses in the UK. He could have asked the state to fund all of the work that was needed, he could havce sold off the green belt and national parks to builders and developers, but he didn't he reinvested his income from it to preserve the natural beauty of a county depleted of industry and a work force. He brought security and investement to a neglected part of the country that others would have let rot.

[dotty.]

If he has a money factory it;s off his own initiative and his ability to seek out and take the best advice.

[Prudie]

The Duchy of Cornwall has been owned by the Royal Family since 1337 (apparently)

[dotty.]

and bearing in mind who held the title before Charles, is it any wonder the place was in a mess.

[craft1948]

On a smaller scale if your parents made good (by whatever method) and ended up with a very nice, valuable property should you be able to inherit it, or should you give it away?

[Innovation]

How the hell can owning acres and acres of land become a burden? I'm now in tears thinking about all those poor sods with massive estates!