Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department has made an estimate of the number of Church of England parish churches with an annual income of between £5,000 and £100,000 who will potentially have to register with the Charity Commission of England and Wales by 2031.

The Charity Commission estimates that around 30,000 church charities across all temporarily excepted Christian denominations will need to register by 31 March 2031.

There are no current plans to further extend the deadline for registration. Other excepted charity categories, such as Scout, Girlguiding, and student union groups, operate under permanent exception arrangements.

The Department has not received a request from the Charity Commission for additional staff or budget in relation to registering excepted church charities. The Charity Commission is working directly with denominational bodies on a phased approach to voluntary registration ahead of the 2031 deadline.