§ Mr. Laurence RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what financial support her Department provides for the maintenance of historic buildings; what plans she has to increase this support; and if she will make a statement. [149493]
§ Mr. CabornThe Department for Culture, Media and Sport's financial support for the maintenance of historic buildings is channelled through English Heritage, which received a baseline grant-in-aid allocation of £115.4 million in 2002–03. English Heritage's baseline grant-in-aid for 2003–04 and 2004–05 is £121.7 million. Funding for English Heritage beyond 2004–05 is currently under consideration.
In addition, Lottery funding is available for repairs to historic buildings through the Heritage Lottery Fund, which has a joint grant scheme with English Heritage for repairs to listed places of worship.
1375WThis Department also administers the Treasury's Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme, which has provided £16.6 million of grants towards the cost of repairs to listed places of worship since December 2001. The Scheme is expected to continue until March 2006.