§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, if he will make a statement on the number of redundant churches that the Church Commissioners have become responsible for in the last 3 years; and what the cost to them has been in each of the last 3 years. [70530]
§ Mr. Stuart BellIn the 3 years to 31 December 1998, 96 churches have been declared redundant and the Commissioners have become involved in settling their future. In the same period the Commissioners have vested 15 redundant churches in the Churches Conservation Trust for preservation. The Trust now maintains 317 such churches and the Commissioners provide 30 per cent. of their costs, or about £1.07m in each of the Trust's last 3 financial years.