What discussions the commissioners have had with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the level of English Heritage grants for church repairs.

The commissioners and other Church representatives recently met the Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, my hon. Friend Mr. Lammy. May I say how grateful I am to him for standing in for me during the last Question Time? He did such a fine job that he might be called on to do so again in the future. At the meeting, the need for more Government support to enable churches' contributions to the community to be sustained and enhanced was emphasised. We shall meet the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the new year.

Will the hon. Gentleman take a strong message to the Chancellor from the House? The Chancellor told us that the reason why lower VAT on church repairs would not apply was that more money would be received from English Heritage in grant. We heard during the last Question Time—I know that the hon. Gentleman was not able to be present—that English Heritage grants will be slashed. Will the hon. Gentleman make the strongest possible representations so that we can get the maximum amount of grant for church repairs?

In 2003, as the hon. Lady is aware, the overall estimated cost of outstanding major repairs that were required to our 16,000 church buildings in England was £373 million. The Culture, Media and Sport Committee is holding an inquiry into the amount of money provided, which will include a consideration of English Heritage and its funding. The Church Heritage Forum will make a submission in the new year.

Does my hon. Friend agree that the problem is not always just money, but sometimes the interference of English Heritage? A church in my patch has the ability to raise its own funds and to offer facilities for the local community. However, the rather pedantic way in which English Heritage sometimes gets involved in such projects, holds back churches' ability to make provision for their local communities. Will my hon. Friend ensure that a balance is struck between the need for large parts of our English heritage to remain and the need to ensure that such buildings are used?

The question of use is pertinent. We often refer to "faith tourism" regarding cathedrals and churches. It would be a matter of regret if bureaucracy intervened to prevent the repair of our churches and the appropriate money from being secured. We are always grateful to the Chancellor of the Exchequer for his listed places of worship grant scheme, which involves VAT, but we also need substantial improvements to the grant money that goes to the Church over time.