Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
Whether his Department plans to provide financial support to (a) places of worship and (b) faith organisations to help them to reopen safely as covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased.
I am very grateful to faith leaders across the country for the leadership they have shown on behalf of their communities during this crisis.
I am also grateful to the Places of Worship Taskforce, which met again last week, and which has been extremely productive. There are still issues we are working through together, including music for services and singing.
As of the 4th of July, places of worship were allowed to re-open with social distancing in place. Today they are able to hold services, or lead communal worship, and important events in the lives of their communities, such as weddings and funerals. Faith organisations have been able to apply for a range of Government-backed financial packages which support charities and businesses.