§ Mr. Cormackasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many grants towards the repair of historic churches have been made since August 1977; and what plans he has to increase the sums available for such grants during the current financial year.
§ Mr. Shore133 between August 1977 and end May 1978. These grants were towards the repair of historic churches and other buildings in regular use for public worship. The sum available for such grants has been increased from £350,000 in 1977–78 to £750,000 in 1978–79.
§ Mr. Cormackasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many applications he has received from historic churches for grants towards their maintenance or repair during the period August 1977 to May 1978; and what criteria were applied when deciding which applications should be accepted and which rejected.
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§ Mr. ShoreFrom August 1977 up to 8th June my Department received 498 applications for grants for churches and other buildings in use for public worship. The criteria for grants are the same as for repair grants for secular buildings—i.e. the building must be of outstanding historic or architectural interest and the applicants must be able to show that they cannot raise the whole of the cost from other sources.