Churches: Repair and Maintenance

HL Deb 15 February 1995 vol 561 cc43-4WA

Lord Kennett

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they accept that the historic churches of England are valued by tourists who come to England, that they are some of the "plant" of the tourist industry, and that they must therefore be kept in good condition if that industry is to continue to contribute to the exchequer through VAT and otherwise.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of National Heritage (Viscount Astor)

Historic buildings, including churches, play a leading role in generating expenditure by tourists, many of whom will include visits to a church when holidaying in England. Government funding for the repair and maintenance of historic churches is channelled through English Heritage, which expects to offer £13.5 million in grant-aid for churches, and £4.5 million for cathedrals, in 1994–95, and through the Churches Conservation Trust, which will spend £2.2 million on repairs to churches in 1994–95.