HC Deb 18 September 2003 vol 410 c969W
Helen Jones

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made on his proposal to reduce VAT on church repairs to 5 per cent.; and if he will make a statement. [130927]

John Healey

The Government are particularly concerned about the position of listed places of worship. That is why we asked the European Commission to bring forward proposals to extend the categories of permitted reduced VAT rates to include their repair, maintenance and improvement.

We are continuing to press this case during the current EU review of VAT reduced rates and have, in the meantime, introduced the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme to provide an equivalent reduction in the cost of these repair projects.