§ Matthew TaylorTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the information and guidance available to the(a) parishes with listed churches and (b) Customs and Excise VAT Department on the recovery mechanisms for VAT paid on repairs to listed places of worship since April. [19345]
§ Mr. BoatengThe Chancellor announced in Budget 2001 that he was to introduce a UK-wide grant scheme to help congregations with the VAT cost of the repair and maintenance of listed buildings which are used as places of worship. The effect of the grant is to reduce the VAT cost on eligible repairs from 17.5 to 5 per cent.
This grant scheme, known as the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme, is being launched today by the Minister for the Arts. Documentation relating to the new scheme is now available, and may be obtained through the scheme's telephone hotline (0845 601 5945—calls charged at local rate), website (www.lpwscheme.org.uk) or by writing to:
Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme, PO Box 609, Newport NP10 8QD.Customs and Excise do not deal with the Scheme and refer callers to the DCMS hotline and web page.