STATE AID FOR HISTORIC CHURCHES (Hansard, 11 November 1976)

§ Baroness BIRK

It was announced on 30th January 1975 that the Government had accepted in principle the case for State aid for historic churches and other ecclesiastical buildings in use, other than cathedrals. This was subject to agreement being reached on the conditions for aid and other relevant matters. Representatives of the Government and of the religious denominations have met and produced the annexed agreed recommendations. These the Government are prepared to accept, subject to their being accepted also by the General Synod of the Church of England and the Churches Main Committee. The proposals apply to Wales where the Scheme will be administered by my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Wales. My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Scotland has had comparable discussions with religious denominations and agreement has now been reached on the basis of a pilot scheme.

In the present economic circumstances, the Government are unfortunately unable to give a specific date for the start of the scheme in England and Wales or for extension in Scotland. There is, however, a considerable amount of detailed planning for implementation still to be done and, on the assumption that the proposals are accepted by the denominations, we shall set this in train so that grants can start to be paid as soon as money becomes available.