Oral Answers to Questions Debate
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Blake Stephenson
Main Page: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)Department Debates - View all Blake Stephenson's debates with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport
(1 day, 7 hours ago)
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Lisa Nandy
I thank my hon. Friend for that moving tribute and I think the whole House will support those words. He is right to underline the importance of that support, and that is why we are working across Government, using the national youth strategy, the Pride in Place impact funds and other funds that are designed to be led and driven from the grassroots up to ensure that every community gets the facilities that they need.
Blake Stephenson (Mid Bedfordshire) (Con)
Will the Secretary of State support Conservative calls for funding for the listed places of worship scheme to be restored? That would give places of worship such as All Saints in Shillington in Mid Bedfordshire the certainty they need to protect our heritage and continue serving all our communities.
Lisa Nandy
I thank the hon. Gentleman for raising this issue, which I know is of considerable interest to many Members. As he knows, the current scheme will end on 31 March. The Minister for Museums, Heritage and Gambling, Baroness Twycross, has met key stake- holders, including the National Churches Trust and the Church of England, to ensure that they are up to date. We will be in a position to make an announcement in due course, and we are listening carefully to Members across the House.