Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what financial support they have provided to religious groups during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Government recognises the huge contributions places of worship and faith groups have provided to the response effort in supporting communities during the pandemic.

We are only too aware of the financial impact the pandemic has caused to our places of worship and faith groups.

In England, charity registered faith groups and places of worship have been able to access the range of government-backed financial support measures available during the pandemic. These include the Coronavirus Community Support Fund, Historic England’s Covid-19 Emergency Response Funds and the Local Authority Discretionary Grants.

We regularly engage with faith groups through our Places of Worship Taskforce and faith roundtables and will continue to work with them to further understand how Government can further support their response to the pressures they face during this time.