Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
Members have been lobbying for church repair funds, while the Church has already spent £5 million on Project Spire with aspirations of reaching £1 billion. The Charity Commission's verdict on whether this aligns with charitable objectives is pending.
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 Project Spire, 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?
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.
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Assessment & feedback
How the Church was allowed to spend £5 million on Project Spire without Charity Commission approval
Response accuracy