§ 1. Mr. BrandrethTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what grants his Department is making to support the preservation of the major cathedrals.
§ The Secretary of State for National Heritage (Mr. Peter Brooke)The cathedral repair grant scheme assists with the repair both of cathedrals and of comparable buildings of other denominations. English Heritage has provided £11.5 million over the three financial years to 1993–94, and I was pleased to announce that £4 million will be available for this work in each of the years 1994–95 and 1995–96.
§ Mr. BrandrethI am grateful to my right hon. Friend for that reply. Is he aware that the maintenance of our great cathedrals can no longer be left to the cathedrals themselves and the Church Commissioners? Chester cathedral is enormously grateful for the support of English Heritage, the European Community and local businesses such as North West Securities. Does my right hon. Friend plan to do more to explore, encourage and sustain partnerships of that kind for the further support of our great and ancient cathedrals?
§ Mr. BrookeMy hon. Friend is right to identify the need for help for the fabric of our cathedrals and about the notable effectiveness of a pluralist response. I am grateful to him for his comments about English Heritage's contribution, and I look forward to the kind of partnership that he described in a series of cases.
§ Mr. EnrightWhile welcoming the support for cathedrals, may I ask whether it applies only to ecclesia Anglicana, or do all other churches and similar buildings receive a grant?
§ Mr. BrookeI shall reiterate my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for City of Chester (Mr. Brandreth). I said that the cathedral repair grant scheme assists with the repair both of cathedrals and of comparable buildings of other denominations.