Charles accused of using his charities to lobby ministers

London: Prince Charles has been accused of using his charities to lobby ministers over politically sensitive issues such as VAT and regional development spending.

Emails and letters released under the Freedom of Information Act show that several organisations set up by Charles to promote his beliefs on topics including social development and the environment have called directly on the government to change policies.

Business in the Community, a charity of which Charles is president, urged Business Secretary Vince Cable to rethink a decision to scrap the Northwest Regional Development Agency, which provided financial support to some of its projects.

The Prince's Foundation for the Built Environment called on Local Government Minister Grant Shapps to incorporate greater community engagement, including promotion of its own work, in the national planning policy framework. Three months later the Department for Communities and Local Government awarded an £800,000 (Dh2.938 million) grant to the foundation to advise local groups on new developments.

The department has denied the two were linked in any way and said that all bids for funding were treated "fairly and impartially".

The revelations are, however, likely to spark further debate about the Prince of Wales's "meddling" in national life. Charles has been repeatedly accused of interfering in political matters when many believe he should remain neutral.

He has become famed for sending "black spider memos" (due to his scrawly handwriting) to politicians expressing his views.

Close interest

Charles is patron or president of 20 not-for-profit charities, 18 of which he founded. Clarence House has admitted that Charles takes "a close interest" in what they do but insists they are independent and governed by their own trustees.

The correspondence — 17 emails and letters between five of the charities and ministers and officials in four government departments — was released to the Guardian newspaper.

Ros Kerslake, chief executive of the Prince's Regeneration Trust which promotes the restoration of old buildings, wrote to Shapps urging him to put pressure on the Treasury to cut VAT on restoring historic buildings offering public access. She was told it was not possible under EU law, but was briefed on regeneration schemes.