Exclusive:SNP Government 'had year to prepare' for church upkeep fund changes - despite claiming it found out in January
Labour MP Euan Stainbank urged the Scottish Government to be “honest” and “drop the political posturing”.
The Scottish Government “had over a year to prepare” for changes to a church upkeep fund - despite claiming it only found out in January.
The UK Government told the SNP administration it was ending the UK-wide Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme (LPWGS) - which enabled congregations to reclaim VAT on repairs to buildings of national importance - in January 2025 and had a meeting about it the following month.
But the Scottish Government claimed earlier this month it only found out it the VAT scheme being replaced by the £92 million Places of Worship Renewal Fund for England when it was formally announced this year.
The change means that the Scottish Government now has the responsibility for the upkeep of churches. The UK Government says Scotland has received proportionate money for this through the Barnett Formula.
Labour MP Euan Stainbank urged the Scottish Government to be “honest” and “drop the political posturing”.
UK culture minister Ian Murray said in a written parliamentary answer this week: “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.”
It comes after Historic Environment Scotland’s - the public body which could provide funding to churches - budget was reduced from £74.3m in 2025/26 to £70.7m in 26/27 in the Scottish Budget.
Falkirk MP Mr Stainbank - who wrote to John Swinney about the issue weeks ago - said churches are “facing damaging uncertainty directly because of [the SNP’s] inaction.”
He said: “John Swinney’s comments in FMQs that Barnett consequentials were available in the recently set 26/27 budget, the cut to spending on Historic Environment Scotland in that budget and the confirmation I've received that the Scottish Government were informed in January 2025 that the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme was coming to an end directly contradict the SNP's comments that they were not informed about the end of the scheme in advance.
“In reality, they had over a year to prepare. The devolved Scottish Parliament must be respected and that requires the SNP to be honest that heritage sits within their remit, clearly spell out the impact of their cuts to Historic Environment Scotland and drop the political posturing and deliver a scheme for places of worship currently facing damaging uncertainty directly because of their inaction.”
A Church of Scotland spokesperson said: “The Church is the largest owner of listed buildings in Scotland with more than 1,100 listed churches and halls.
“As well as focal point for people to worship, they are important centres for the whole community, hosting outreach work such as foodbanks, activities for schools, young people and the elderly.
“We hope that the UK and Scottish Governments can work constructively together to ensure adequate funding continues to be made available to support the ongoing maintenance of these important buildings.”
The Scottish Government was approached for comment.
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