National Lottery Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateLord Bishop of Chichester
Main Page: Lord Bishop of Chichester (Bishops - Bishops)Department Debates - View all Lord Bishop of Chichester's debates with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport
(3 years, 4 months ago)
Lords ChamberMy Lords, will the Minister undertake to review the abolition of the HLF grant for places of worship, which has resulted in congregations without financial resources finding it much harder to compete for maintenance and development funding? The effect of abolition has been profoundly demoralising for small rural communities and areas of deprivation in coastal towns, such as Hastings, where the church building can be a source of local pride and community cohesion but is in danger of falling into disrepair and representing a sense of abandonment by local and national government.
My Lords, I am happy to take the right reverend Prelate’s point back to colleagues in the department, but I hope that he will recognise the value of the work that the National Lottery Heritage Fund does.