Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department is taking to support the maintenance of churches.

The DCMS supports the maintenance of churches through both the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme, funded up to £42m per annum, which provides grants towards the VAT paid on repairs, maintenance and alterations to the listed buildings and, the Listed Places of Worship Roof Repair Fund, a one-off £15m scheme. The Listed Places of Worship Roof Repair Fund allows those responsible for looking after listed places of worship across the UK to apply for money to address urgent roof repairs.