HC Deb 03 May 2000 vol 349 c101W
Miss McIntosh

To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, what progress has been made in respect of repairs to churches under the EC Directive adopted by the Council of Ministers on 22 October 1999 authorising member states to apply a reduced rate of VAT on a temporary basis for certain labour-intensive services. [119828]

Mr. Stuart Bell

Originally there was a suggestion that the directive might be applied to allow a lower rate of VAT on repairs to all historic and listed buildings including churches. Unfortunately the list adopted did not extend to these and the Churches will continue to press for this to be reviewed at the earliest opportunity.

Miss McIntosh

To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, what plans he has to seek to ensure that VAT costs are reduced for repairs to existing church buildings and to ensure that VAT is charged exclusively on the construction of new church buildings. [119846]

Mr. Stuart Bell

The Churches continue to press the case for VAT relief on repairs to church buildings. The hon. Lady will know that I raised this at a recent meeting with my hon. Friend the Minister for the Arts in the context of the current review of policies relating to the historic environment.