§ 33. Mr. Parkerasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will take steps to make grants for repairs to historic churches used for worship during the current financial year.
§ Mr. ShoreI am prepared to deal with a limited number of applications for grant towards the repair of churches or other buildings in ecclesiastical use in England, where work must be done within the current financial year in order to avert danger to their fabric.
§ Mr. Cormackasked the Secretary of State for the Environment when the hon. Member for Staffordshire, South-West can expect to receive the letter promised him in answer to his priority Written Question of 14th July on the subject of State aid for places of worship.
§ Mr. Newensasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to encourage efforts to preserve historic churches from destruction by adapting them for suitable alternative uses where they become surplus to requirements for the purpose of worship; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ShoreMy Department has recently published a booklet, of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy, entitled "New Life for Old Churches", which gives examples of how this can be done. Churches converted to other uses are, if outstanding as historic buildings, already eligible for repair grants through the Historic Buildings Council.