To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners what financial support is available for rural churches which require repairs to their fabric. (111270)

The main sources of funding are the Repair Grants for Places of Worship scheme, which has a budget of £25 million per annum, and the Listed Places of Worship Grants Scheme, which reimburses VAT on repairs to historic churches and gives out £10.5 million per annum to English churches. Other, smaller sources include grant-giving bodies such as the Historic Churches Preservation Trust and local trusts. Most repair costs (about £101 million per annum) are met by the local church and community.

There are no additional sources of funds specifically targeted toward rural churches.

To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners what funding sources are available for the repair of historic churches. (111271)

The main sources of funding are the Repair Grants for Places of Worship scheme, which has a budget of £25 million per annum, and the Listed Places of Worship Grants Scheme, which reimburses VAT on repairs to historic churches and gives out £10.5 million per annum to English churches. Other, smaller sources include grant-giving bodies such as the Historic Churches Preservation Trust and local trusts. Most repair costs (about £101 million per annum) are met by the local church and community.