§ The Lord Bishop of ROCHESTERasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they can make any Statement about the Government's consideration of State aid for churches in use.
§ Baroness BIRKHistoric buildings grants are not at present made to buildings in ecclesiastical use (which are exempt from control over the demolition of listed buildings and scheduled ancient 647WA monuments). A Working Party of the General Synod of the Church of England has pursued with the Government, and through the Churches Main Committee with the other denominations, the possibility of such grants being made available for historic churches in use and has, in consultation with the Department of the Environment, carried out studies of the estimated costs of repair and the resources available to meet them in sample areas.
After considering these studies and other representations from the General Synod, the Government have accepted in principle the case for some measure of State aid for historic churches and other ecclesiastical buildings in use, subject to agreement being reached on the amount of aid, conditions, methods and other relevant matters, and also having regard to the implications for public expenditure. On the basis of the studies, the aid involved (which would not extend to cathedrals) is not expected to exceed £1 million per annum at 1973 prices. In consultation with the Secretary of State for Wales, the Secretary of State for the Environment will be inviting the General Synod and, through the Churches Main Committee, the other denominations, to
1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 Total Category Country I and II III I and II III I and II III I and II III I and II III Burundi — — — — — — — — — — Cameroon 1 — — 58 13 1 1 — 15 59 Central African Republic — — — — — — — — — — Chad — — — — — — — — — — Congo — — — — 1 2 — — 1 2 Dahomey 2 — 2 — — — — — 4 — Gabon — — — — — — — — — — Guinea — — 1 — — — — — 1 — Ivory Coast — — 1 5 3 — — — 4 5 Madagascar 1 — — 1 1 — — — 2 1 Mali — — 3 — — — — — 3 — Mauritania — — — — — — — 1 — 1 Mauritius 4 2 6 3 2 1 — — 12 6 Niger — — — — — — — — — — Rwanda — — — 1 — — — — — 1 Senegal 1 15 1 4 2 — — — 4 19 Togo — — 2 — 2 — — — 4 — Upper Volta — — — — — — — — — — Zaire 1 12 4 — 1 — — — 6 12 GRAND TOTAL 56 106 NoteCategory I and II visitors are "official", Category III visitors are "arrangements only".
We expect that contacts between the United Kingdom and the African and Malagasy Associated States will intensify after the new Convention of Association
648WAdiscuss the matters to be agreed with representatives of his Department.