Asked by: Gareth Davies (Conservative - Grantham and Bourne)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the contribution of (a) churches and (b) church buildings to (i) society and (ii) the economy each year.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
A fully comprehensive assessment of the social and spiritual contribution churches, whether in their physical or congregational form, make to the nation would be beyond the scope or ability of any government. They provide sanctuary, enlightenment, succour, warmth and solidarity. They offer a space in which to celebrate, congregate and commiserate; a place in which to witness some of the greatest art and architecture, ancient and modern; and a venue to mark the great occasions of our lives as individuals, as a community and as a nation. For many people of faith they offer a sense of purpose, commitment and shared religious identity. In many cases they also offer rooms for voluntary groups, rehearsal spaces and act as our most important valuable visitor attractions.
In addition, the Government is aware of external research carried out by the National Churches Trust, which shows that for every £1 invested in church buildings there is an estimated Social Return on Investment of £3.74, which can go up to £18.10 when alternative wellbeing valuation methods are used.
Asked by: Gareth Davies (Conservative - Grantham and Bourne)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment his Department has made of the value for money of Big Society Capital since its inception.
Answered by Matt Warman
In July 2020, The Oversight Trust published an independent review of Big Society Capital (BSC) as part of its role in overseeing the organisation. This report outlined the progress BSC has made towards its objectives as a social investment wholesaler and market-builder, including in mobilising private capital for social investment. Since 2011, BSC has signed £680m of investments to support social enterprises and charities, and has leveraged £1.4bn of investments from private investors alongside this. This has contributed to 97 fund level investments and provided capital to over 1,200 charities and social enterprises, with 73% of these organisations located in the 50% most deprived places in the UK.
Asked by: Gareth Davies (Conservative - Grantham and Bourne)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of Big Society Capital at mobilising private capital for investments in the social enterprise sector.
Answered by Matt Warman
In July 2020, The Oversight Trust published an independent review of Big Society Capital (BSC) as part of its role in overseeing the organisation. This report outlined the progress BSC has made towards its objectives as a social investment wholesaler and market-builder, including in mobilising private capital for social investment. Since 2011, BSC has signed £680m of investments to support social enterprises and charities, and has leveraged £1.4bn of investments from private investors alongside this. This has contributed to 97 fund level investments and provided capital to over 1,200 charities and social enterprises, with 73% of these organisations located in the 50% most deprived places in the UK.