HC Deb 30 April 2001 vol 367 c481W
36. Miss McIntosh

To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, if he will extend his commitment to help listed places of worship via the proposed grant scheme to unlisted places of worship. [158175]

Mr. Stuart Bell

My right hon. Friend the Chancellor has given priority to listed places of worship because of the specially costly burden borne by congregations who strive to care properly for their historic buildings.

But I shall continue to remind him of the concern, expressed by the Churches Main Committee among others, as to the burden of VAT on places of worship that are unlisted, in the hope that it may in time prove possible to extend relief to them also.