David Ruffley MP welcomes the changes to VAT alteration proposals, announced last week.

David Ruffley MP said: 'I led a group of concerned MPs to meet David Gauke, the Minister responsible for VAT, at a meeting in the Treasury on Monday 23 April.

I am delighted that the Treasury has succumbed to our pressure and will now relieve listed churches' VAT on alterations.

As a result, churches will now be able to recoup VAT from the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme (LPWGS) which has been increased by £30 million per year.

This is a victory for my constituents, many of whom were very worried by the implications of Mr Osborne's Budget decision to impose VAT on church alterations. Many of these alterations involved the building of kitchens, lavatories and meeting rooms to make churches more amenable to local people.'