§ 42. Mr. JenkinTo ask the right hon. Member for Selby, representing the Church Commissioners, what is the policy on admission charges to cathedrals. [15279]
§ Mr. Michael Alison (Second Church Estates Commissioner, representing the Church Commissioners)It is not a matter for the Church Commissioners. Policy on admission charges rests with individual cathedrals, but I would be happy to convey any representations that my hon. Friend might wish to make to the appropriate authority.
§ Mr. JenkinHas it not become evident that cathedrals that levy charges on entrance for tourists are maximising their resources? In these straitened times, should not the Church Commissioners encourage cathedrals and other major church buildings to levy charges so that extra revenue can be raised?
§ Mr. AlisonMy hon. Friend makes a fair and reasonable point. In practice, there is a good deal of variation in regard to the bits of a cathedral to which admission charges apply, but I shall arrange to have the general point that my hon. Friend makes widely circulated in all cathedral cities.
§ Mr. Donald AndersonIs it not surprising that the Government have not sought to bring cathedrals into the private finance initiative?
§ Mr. AlisonI am happy to tell the hon. Gentleman that cathedrals are almost entirely financed by the residual money left in taxpayers' pockets after the Chancellor of the Exchequer has taken his share, so their funding arises from voluntary donations from supporters of cathedrals.