HOPES for a reduction on the cost of repairs to church buildings have been dashed.
The law prevents the reduction of the rate of VAT on church building repairs and renovations, MP Peter Pike has been told.
Mr Pike, who attends St Peter's Parish Church, Burnley, where an appeal has just been launched for roof repairs, asked Paymaster General, Dawn Primarolo, if there was a very strong case for at least reducing VAT on such repairs to five per cent.
In many parts of the country churches were an important part of heritage and many of the buildings cost considerable sums to maintain and operate.
He was told treasury ministers had received a number of letters asking for a zero or at least reduced rate on repairs to church buildings.
The Paymaster General said the construction of new churches, church halls and village halls was free of VAT and that each year £20 million was granted for the maintenance and repair of churches.
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