Mediaeval Church Buildings

HC Deb 17 June 1998 vol 314 c236W

Dr. Gibson

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will instruct English Heritage to restore grants for the repair of mediaeval church buildings. [45830]

Mr. Banks

The Government continue to support historic church buildings through English Heritage. The joint scheme for places of worship which English Heritage has established with the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) is providing offers of £20 million in 1998–99 (£10 million from each body). English Heritage and the HLF have, however, stopped accepting new applications in this financial year because the scheme is massively oversubscribed. They will re-open the scheme later under revised guidelines.