Oral Answers to Questions

Bob Blackman Excerpts

Thursday 22nd October 2026 Commons Chamber

[Mrs Elsie Blundell (Heywood and Middleton North) (Lab)]

1. What steps the Church is taking with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport to ensure the effectiveness of the places of worship renewal fund in deprived parishes.

[Bob Blackman (Harrow East) (Con)]

8. What assessment the commissioners have made of the adequacy of the places of worship renewal fund in supporting churches in suburban areas.

[The Leader of the House of Commons (Sir Alan Campbell)]

The Second Church Estates Commissioner is unable to be in her place today, so I am answering on her behalf.

The national Church institutions are in regular contact with the DCMS about the places of worship renewal fund’s operation, and are collecting feedback from parishes before the third round opens. I hope hon. Members will be reassured that the DCMS has committed to evaluating the scheme in response to the Culture, Media and Sport Committee inquiry on protecting the built environment.