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Church Commissioners
22 July 2021
Lead MP
Matt Western
Debate Type
General Debate
Tags
Taxation
Other Contributors: 1
At a Glance
Matt Western raised concerns about church commissioners in the House of Commons. Other MPs contributed to the debate.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
Asked what assessment the commissioners have made regarding the effect of charging VAT on church repairs and their impact on affordability. He further discussed a report by Historic England in 2019, which highlighted that VAT imposes consequential costs of up to £750,000 for certain projects in his constituency.
Agreed with the need for sustainable solutions and mentioned that short-term measures such as the listed places of worship grant scheme are insufficient. He suggested using new tax freedoms gained post-Brexit to permanently reduce or zero-rate VAT on repairs and restoration of listed buildings.
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Assessment & feedback
Summary accuracy
About House of Commons Debates
House of Commons debates take place in the main chamber of the House of Commons. These debates cover a wide range of topics including government policy, legislation, and current affairs. MPs from all parties can participate, question ministers, and hold the government accountable for its decisions.