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Second batch of Prince Charles 'black spider memos' to be published: live Second batch of Prince Charles 'black spider memos' to be published: live
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In this letter to Johnson, the Prince of Wales sets out in impassioned terms the reasons why he “persists” with efforts to integrate complementary medicines into conventional healthcare. The Prince says:
I cannot bear people suffering unnecessarily when a complementary approach could make a real difference. I have been convinced for many years that we in the United Kingdom need to do more to encourage and facilitate good health, as well as to treat illness, and that there should be more of a “whole person” approach to the treatment of illness rather than a “reductionist” focus on the particular ailment.
In addition, I am sure that more can be done to take advantage of complementary medicine, not as an alternative or competitor to conventional medicine, but as part of an integrated approach with the same doctor being able to provide or suggest conventional and/or complementary remedies and treatments as he and the patient see fit.
My colleagues Rob Evans and Robert Booth have this first take on the latest round of letters Prince Charles to ministers.
Prince Charles wrote to Labour ministers about the use of complementary medicines, the state of the world’s rainforests, and hospital food, the second batch of royal correspondence released following a successful freedom of information request by the Guardian shows.
The 17 “black spider memos”, written between 2006 and 2009 to ministers in four departments including Alan Johnson and Andy Burnham, also see Charles discuss Labour’s plans for a new generation of “eco towns”.
According to Clarence House, Charles wrote concerning homeopathy in hospitals: “I cannot bear people suffering unnecessarily when a complementary approach could make a real difference.”
Seventeen letters from prince to government ministers believed to be about issues including health, rural affairs and architecture
The government’s decision to release the correspondence cuts short what was set to be another battle over the publication of the second tranche of the prince’s correspondence with ministers. A freedom of information tribunal was to hold a hearing later this year on whether the Guardian should be given access to this batch.
In a letter to Prince Charles, Johnson recalls they had “spoke in detail about hospital food” and promises to consider the Prince’s proposals to develop a hub to improve food procurement in the public sector.
The newly appointed health secretary, Andy Burnham, wrote to the Prince to thank him for his letter and to suggest a meeting to discuss the possibility of a study on integrating complementary medicine in hospitals in England.
I know Alan (Johnson) has made great progress in furthering the debate on complementary medicines. The results of the Northern Ireland pilot were very interesting and I am in conversation with my officials about our plans to run a similar study in England.
In a letter to the Prince of Wales, Alexander says the heir to the throne asked about support for one of his charities, Turquoise Mountain, a regeneration project in Kabul, Afghanistan.
You also asked about possible support for the Turquoise Mountain Foundation in Afghanistan... we have moved away from funding smaller scale initiatives such as this - and towards funding larger-scale government programmes.
The latest batch of Prince Charles’s letters to ministers shows his concerns for UK and wider world, Clarence House has said.The latest batch of Prince Charles’s letters to ministers shows his concerns for UK and wider world, Clarence House has said.
Reacting to the publication of the second round of letters, a Clarence House spokesman said:Reacting to the publication of the second round of letters, a Clarence House spokesman said:
The correspondence published by the Government today, Thursday 4 June, shows the range of The Prince of Wales’ concerns and interests for this country and the wider world.The correspondence published by the Government today, Thursday 4 June, shows the range of The Prince of Wales’ concerns and interests for this country and the wider world.
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. In all these cases, The Prince of Wales is raising issues of public concern, and trying to find practical ways to address the issues.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. In all these cases, The Prince of Wales is raising issues of public concern, and trying to find practical ways to address the issues.
The second batch of letters from Prince Charles to ministers have been published here.The second batch of letters from Prince Charles to ministers have been published here.
Here are some of the stand-out topics covered in the latest tranche of correspondence between the Prince of Wales and ministers:Here are some of the stand-out topics covered in the latest tranche of correspondence between the Prince of Wales and ministers:
What did the first batch of letters from Prince Charles to ministers contain?What did the first batch of letters from Prince Charles to ministers contain?
For a refresher on what Prince Charles’s black spider memos are, watch this video made before the first tranche was released.For a refresher on what Prince Charles’s black spider memos are, watch this video made before the first tranche was released.
A second batch of letters written by Prince Charles to government ministers is to be published imminently – and we’ll have all the revelations and reaction from across the political spectrum and royal commentariat right here on this live blog.A second batch of letters written by Prince Charles to government ministers is to be published imminently – and we’ll have all the revelations and reaction from across the political spectrum and royal commentariat right here on this live blog.
The 17 letters, expected at 2.30pm, cover the prince’s correspondence between 2006 and 2009 with ministers in four departments.The 17 letters, expected at 2.30pm, cover the prince’s correspondence between 2006 and 2009 with ministers in four departments.
The newest cache is released some three weeks after the government published 27 letters between the heir to the throne and ministers, bringing an end to a decade-long battle that started with a freedom of information request in April 2005 by Guardian journalist Rob Evans.The newest cache is released some three weeks after the government published 27 letters between the heir to the throne and ministers, bringing an end to a decade-long battle that started with a freedom of information request in April 2005 by Guardian journalist Rob Evans.
The first batch dated from 2004 and 2005 and showed Charles petitioning ministers on a colourful range of subjects from the Iraq war to alternative therapies and from Antarctic huts to Patagonian toothfish.The first batch dated from 2004 and 2005 and showed Charles petitioning ministers on a colourful range of subjects from the Iraq war to alternative therapies and from Antarctic huts to Patagonian toothfish.
Today, we can expect to see more of the same as the latest round is thought to include correspondence between the prince and several government ministers about issues including health, rural affairs and architecture.Today, we can expect to see more of the same as the latest round is thought to include correspondence between the prince and several government ministers about issues including health, rural affairs and architecture.
The government’s decision to release the second tranche of letters cuts short what was set to be yet another legal battle. A freedom of information tribunal was due to hold a hearing later this year on whether the Guardian should be given access to this batch.The government’s decision to release the second tranche of letters cuts short what was set to be yet another legal battle. A freedom of information tribunal was due to hold a hearing later this year on whether the Guardian should be given access to this batch.
The government’s failed attempt to block publication of the first letters cost more than £400,000 in legal expenses.The government’s failed attempt to block publication of the first letters cost more than £400,000 in legal expenses.
So stay with us for the most comprehensive breakdown of the latest letters, and analysis from our team of specialist correspondents.So stay with us for the most comprehensive breakdown of the latest letters, and analysis from our team of specialist correspondents.