§ 15. Mr. Bill O'Brien (Normanton)If he intends to increase the allocation of resources to English Heritage; and if he will make a statement. [141887]
§ The Minister for the Arts (Mr. Alan Howarth)English Heritage will receive grant in aid of £112.7 million in 2001–02. In 2002–03 it will receive £119.7 million—an increase of 3.62 per cent. in real terms—and in 2003–04 it will receive £121.7 million, an increase of 2.78 per cent. We have been glad to make this additional funding available.
§ Mr. O'BrienI thank my right hon. Friend for that reply and for the information that English Heritage is now to receive increases in its allocation. My concern was heightened when I was making representations on behalf of St. Peter's church in Horbury in my constituency and learned that, over the past four years, there has been no increase in the allocation to English Heritage. Churches such as St. Peter's miss out because of that restriction on finances. I realise that English Heritage has a difficult task, but I am pleased that we are now ensuring that increased resources are to be made available.
§ Mr. HowarthMy hon. Friend has championed the need for St. Peter's, Horbury to receive funding so that that magnificent grade 1 listed church can be repaired. He has made it very plain to me how disappointed he has been that, so far, that application has not been successful under the joint places of worship scheme, which has been heavily over-subscribed. It is run jointly by English Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund. The Heritage Lottery Fund has chosen to increase the funding that it 343 puts into the scheme, and English Heritage has kept its funding constant, as my hon. Friend says. However, we have made additional funding available for the future, and I very much hope that my hon. Friend's wonderful church will, at long last, be able to secure the funds needful for its repair.