§ 32. Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, what support is given by the commissioners to the work of the Church Conservation Trust; and if he will make a statement. [128228]
§ Mr. Stuart BellThe work of the Churches Conservation Trust is jointly funded, 30 per cent. by the Church of England and 70 per cent. by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
The Church's share of the Trust's budgeted expenditure for the three years beginning on 1 April 2000 is £3.8 million. This will be met partly from a share of the sale proceeds of redundant churches and partly from the Church Commissioners' own funds.
Over 330 redundant churches of historic and architectural interest are now maintained by the Churches Conservation Trust, many opening for occasional acts of worship. A full list is available from their offices at 89 Fleet Street.