HC Deb 20 November 2000 vol 357 c80W
Mr. Jon Owen Jones

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) when he expects his proposal of a 5 per cent. rate of VAT on church repairs to come into effect; [138823]

(2) what advice the Treasury intends to give to organisations intending to carry out repairs on churches about when the reduction in the rate of VAT will come into effect; [138832]

(3) when he expects to receive an answer from the European Commission to his request to set a lower rate of VAT on church repairs; [138833]

Mr. Kidney

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his timescale is for implementing his proposal for reducing VAT for listed buildings that are places of worship. [138840]

Mr. Redwood

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to receive a reply from the European Commission to his application for a change to VAT on churches. [139267]

Dawn Primarolo

The Government have requested that the European Commission should consider making early legislative proposals to include repairs, maintenance and improvements to listed places of worship in the list of permissible reduced rates annexed to the Sixth Directive. The European Commission is currently considering this request. It is too early to discuss the date when any reduced rate could come into effect.

Mr. Jon Owen Jones

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Chancellor's proposal on the VAT levied on church repairs will also apply to mosques, synagogues and other places of worship. [138831]

Dawn Primarolo

Yes. Places of worship are listed religious buildings such as cathedrals, churches, chapels, meeting-houses, synagogues, mosques and temples.