Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when officials in her Department first discussed the intention to extend the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme with (a) Angus Robertson and (b) his officials.
Answered by Ian Murray
Heritage funding and policy for Scotland is a devolved matter. DCMS officials engage with the Scottish Government on an ad hoc basis regarding developments and relevant issues including on the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme (LPWGS).
The LPWGS was extended for one year only from 1 April 2025. The website was updated in July 2025 to show that the scheme would run until March 31st 2026 or until the budget of £23 million was exhausted.
Official-level engagement has included an email exchange in January 2025 noting the scheme's extension for one year only and stating that there would be an upcoming review during the Autumn 2025 Spending Review. There was a subsequent meeting on 6 February 2025 to discuss further detail. Following email correspondence in January 2026, a meeting on 17 February 2026 was held to discuss the intention to close the LPWGS.
Details of ministerial meetings can be found in the quarterly ministerial transparency returns.
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