Asked by: Baroness Fookes (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the amount of value added tax paid on costs associated with the repair of church buildings in the financial years (1) 2024–25, (2) 2025–26, and (3) 2026–27; and whether the cost of value added tax will be covered by grants awarded under the Places of Worship Renewal Fund.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Government does not hold data on annual VAT revenue on church repairs. This is because businesses are not required to provide figures at a product level within their VAT returns, as this would impose an excessive administrative burden.
Regarding the newly established Places of Worship Renewal Fund (PWRF), where capital grants have been awarded, VAT on eligible works and costs can be covered by the grant funding if it cannot be reclaimed.