Covid-19: Churches and Places of Worship

Lord Lexden Excerpts
Thursday 9th July 2020

(4 years, 5 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Lord Greenhalgh Portrait Lord Greenhalgh
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I looked at the suggestion of a small business grant fund with my colleague and noble friend Lady Barran, and we have already had a bilateral on this to see how we can move forward. It should be noted that the charity support fund provided by the National Lottery fund is open to places of worship that are registered charities, and that is some £200 million.

Lord Lexden Portrait Lord Lexden (Con)
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Will the guidance to which my noble friend the Minister referred in answer to my noble friend Lord Glenarthur include the safe resumption of choral singing, something for which our choirs, cathedrals, churches and their congregations yearn?

Lord Greenhalgh Portrait Lord Greenhalgh
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I thank my noble friend for raising the importance of choral music and choirs to our places of worship. My understanding is that it is included in the guidance, which will be published shortly.