Queen's and Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer
The Office of Queen's and Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer (QLTR) is held by the Crown Agent.
The post of QLTR was created in 1837 by the amalgamation of two existing posts created in 1707 - the King's/Queen's Remembrancer and the Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer.
At one time the Sovereign's, and later the UK Government's, finances were administered by the Treasury. The Treasury's Scottish agent was the QLTR, and therefore he came under the direct control of the Treasury Commissioners. The Treasury established the Exchequer Office for Scotland in Edinburgh, essentially as a revenue collecting office, and the QLTR was at its head. As the opportunities for collecting revenue on behalf of the Crown in Scotland increased so did the functions of the QLTR, particularly in the 19th century. Among other duties, the QLTR was made responsible for collecting fines and for supervising the funding of the Scottish court system.
However in the 1970s, the function of financing that court system was transferred to the Secretary of State for Scotland, and in 1981 the QLTR's functions of paying judicial salaries and funding the prosecution service were transferred to the Lord Advocate. The Exchequer Office was itself therefore closed in 1981 - but the post of QLTR was retained for the specific purpose of his dealing, on behalf of the Crown, with matters of bona vacantia, ultimus haeres and Treasure Trove, all three of which are based on the common law principle relating to ownerless goods - Quod nullius est fit domini regis - which means - That which belongs to no one becomes the King's.
In 1981, the Treasury Commissioners decided that the post of QLTR should in future be held by whoever held the position in Scotland of Crown Agent. This dual appointment still operates, although since devolution the QLTR has been under the direction of Scottish Ministers rather than the Treasury Commissioners.
In terms of the Scotland Act 1998, the Crown's property rights in ownerless goods and the revenues raised from them were transferred to Scottish Ministers. Consequently all net receipts of the QLTR Department have since devolution been paid into the Scottish Consolidated Fund, rather than being transferred to the Treasury in London as used to be the case.
The information sheets below provide more information on the work of this department.
Information Sheet on Bona Vacantia
QLTR Conveyancing Procedures
Information Sheet on Treasure Trove
Information Sheet on Ultimus Haeres
Form F8 statement of particulars
Guidance for Care Homes on arranging a funeral for an Ultimus Haeres estate
If you have any questions about the work of the Queen's and Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer, contact:
Crown Office
25 Chambers Street
Edinburgh
EH1 1LA
Tel: 0844 5613805 or 0844 5613804 (Bona Vacantia including Dissolved Company Cases)
Tel: 0844 5613804, 08445613806 or 0844 5613802 (Ultimus Haeres Cases)
Te: 0844 5613804, 0844 5613806, 0844 5613805 or 0844 5613802 (Treasure Trove)
Fax: 0844 5614276
DX: 540310 Edinburgh 38
Email:
COQLTR@copfs.gsi.gov.uk