Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Desmond Swayne and Marsha De Cordova

Thursday 3rd July 2025 Commons Chamber

[Marsha De Cordova]

I thank the Father of the House for his question. He is absolutely right: the attacks that took place in Taybeh last week were outrageous and should not have been allowed to happen. If we are all going to be the hands and feet of Jesus, we have to speak out when we see such atrocities happen. We must be a voice for the voiceless. I hear him when he says that the Church must speak out every day against what is happening in Gaza, and indeed across the whole occupied territories.

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

6. What statutory powers the Church plans to use to facilitate Project Spire.

[Marsha De Cordova]

I thank the right hon. Member for his question and draw his attention to a written response I gave on 22 April. It is the Church’s intention, subject to the approval of the trustees, for the Church Commissioners to make an application to the Charity Commission to authorise an ex gratia payment under section 106 of the Charities Act 2011 on the basis of moral obligation.

[Sir Desmond Swayne]

A number of Members this morning have lobbied for expenditure to repair their churches, and the hon. Lady has told them to lobby the Government—the Department for Culture, Media and Sport—for that money. At the same time, the Church has already spent £5 million on this project, with the aspiration of taking it to £1 billion, when the Charity Commission has yet to deliver its verdict on whether that is within the charitable objectives allowable. How has that been allowed to happen?

[Marsha De Cordova]

These are two separate issues. What is going on in relation to funding for Project Spire is totally separate to any other funding—the listed places of worship grant scheme is a separate scheme. The buildings for mission fund that supports our churches is totally separate.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Desmond Swayne and Marsha De Cordova

Thursday 16th January 2025 Commons Chamber

[Marsha De Cordova]

I thank the hon. Member for the question. As he will have heard throughout this Question Time, we are keen to ensure that the listed places of worship grant scheme continues, because we can see not only the immense benefits it brings to our communities, but how it helps to alleviate some of the challenges of raising funds. It is important that all our heritage buildings, including our churches, are preserved and that adequate funding is available for them. I would be very happy, if the hon. Member wishes, to meet him to discuss this further.

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

The scheme was designed to address a perverse incentive in the VAT rules that favoured demolition and rebuild at a time when we were unable to change those rules. Post Brexit, we can now do so. Will the Church Commissioners draw that to the attention of those on the Treasury Bench?

[Marsha De Cordova]

Yes.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Desmond Swayne and Marsha De Cordova

Tuesday 24th October 2023 Commons Chamber

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

10. What recent discussions he has had with representatives of the Palestinian Authority on a two-state solution.

[Marsha De Cordova (Battersea) (Lab)]

12. What recent reports he has received on the situation in Israel and Palestine.