Secular Café: Former Tory Minister protests against tax on church renovation

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Former Tory Minister protests against tax on church renovation Apr 23rd 2012, 08:12 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/poli...arns-Hurd.html Quote: "The Church has on the whole a pretty raw deal and this is just one example of it. "We are governed by people who are vaguely sympathetic to the Church and would be horrified if it started to disintegrate, but don't quite understand that in order to keep it all going it needs a bit of effort and a bit of sympathy. It is taken for granted and that, I think, is a pity." ... ...VAT is already levied on repairs to churches, cathedrals and other listed buildings, but under the proposals "approved alterations" — such as new disabled access, plumbing systems and substantial changes that affect the structure — will also be subject to the 20 per cent tax. The Government has said it was ending an "anomaly" that allowed millionaires to install swimming pools without paying VAT, leading the Church to claim that the Treasury had not "fully understood" the effect the proposals would have on their buildings. The Church has warned that the proposals will unfairly "penalise" cathedrals and churches, which are almost entirely maintained by voluntary donations.

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