Oral Answers to Questions

Tom Rutland Excerpts

Thursday 12th November 2026 Commons Chamber

[Stephanie Peacock]

I am grateful to the hon. Lady and I appreciate that she is a huge champion for her local community, which has a rich heritage. The reality is that, under the previous scheme, 80% of those who got funding said that they would have done it anyway, so it was hugely under-targeted. The reality was also that more deprived areas simply could not raise the capital needed in the first place to qualify for the VAT rebate. Our places of worship renewal fund targets those places with the greatest levels of both deprivation and need.

[Tom Rutland (East Worthing and Shoreham) (Lab)]

Listed places of worship, such as St Mary de Haura in Shoreham, are not just places to pray; they are at the beating heart of our community. Following the listed places of worship grant scheme closing and being replaced by the more competitive and VAT-included places of worship renewal fund, my constituents are concerned about their ability to repair and maintain their places of worship. Will the Minister tell the House how the Government intend to ensure that our places of worship can continue to serve our communities long into the future?