Oral Question·Department for Work and Pensions
“What recent assessment he has made of trends in the level of job opportunities in rural areas.”
Tabled: 23 June 2026Answered: 29 June 2026
Asked by
Bradley Thomas
Conservative — Bromsgrove
Answering Minister
the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
Answer from Hansard
Marsha De Cordova
Churches and cathedrals are the treasure houses of our local culture and history. The Church of England manages the largest single group of listed buildings in England—over 12,200 grade I and grade II listed buildings. The value of the work needed to maintain these buildings is estimated at £115 million annually, and the backlog for church building repairs is approximately £1 billion.