13 July 2012
The
Church of England has today welcomed the second reading of the
Scrap Metal Dealers Bill in the House of Commons.
Janet
Gough, Director of the Archbishops' Council's Cathedrals and Church
Buildings Division, said: "We thank Richard Ottaway MP and all
those making positive contributions to today's debate as the Bill
moves forward to its Committee Stage in the
autumn.
"We are
confident that the government will find time to take this important
Bill forward."
The
menace of lead theft and the consequential damage is the single
biggest problem facing church buildings today. It has cost churches
more than £27.5 million in the past six years; and offences have
increased by one third between 2010 and 2011.
The
Bill stipulates tougher applications for obtaining a dealer's
licence, greater powers for police and local authorities to suspend
and revoke licences of illegal operators, and a single national
register of licensed dealers.