§ 5. Mr. Michael J. Foster (Worcester)What assessment he has made of the prospects for England's bid to host the 2006 world cup; and if he will make a statement. [87201]
§ The Minister for Sport (Mr. Tony Banks)I am firmly optimistic about our chances of success. England's bid has always been strong but, in the light of recent events, it is gathering even more momentum and strength; for example, through the highly successful visit to England last month of representatives of world football, who were received by His Royal Highness Prince Charles at Highgrove and by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in Downing street. The representatives also enjoyed the fantastic spectacle of the Wembley cup final.
Manchester United's triumph in the European cup was a great advertisement for English club football and for English fans. The decision by UEFA-the European governing body-to remove the expectation that European delegates on the FIFA executive were to support Germany has further boosted our chances. The Football Association's 2006 bid is a national campaign actively supported by the Government and by Opposition parties. I am grateful to Members on both sides of the House who are working with me to ensure England's success.
§ Mr. FosterAs my hon. Friend knows, the Football Association announced today that Manchester United football club does not have to take part in next season's FA cup. As a lifelong supporter of Birmingham City, and a fan of Worcester City, I am not used to supporting such a successful team. Can my hon. Friend enlighten the House as to the justification for that decision by the FA?
§ Mr. BanksManchester United's exemption from next season's FA cup is a one-off exceptional proposal, in exceptional circumstances. There are two reasons for that. The first is that England has an unenviable reputation for looking down on new, major tournaments. We refused to enter the world cup when it was first organised, and we refused to enter the European cup when it began-my own club, Chelsea, which won the championship in 1954–55, was refused the privilege of being the first club to go into Europe. No one can say that those decisions were right; they were wrong and we cannot make the same mistake again. We cannot afford to be wrong about a new world club championship in the year 2000.
Secondly, if Manchester United does not compete, Bayern Munich will replace it as Europe's champion representatives in Brazil. It is my considered opinion that, in such an event, significant damage would be inflicted on England's chances of hosting the world cup in 2006. The FA and indeed the Government are asking Manchester United and all fans to do their best to enhance England's reputation and standing throughout the football world.
§ Mr. Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey)The whole House will know that the Minister brings his personal energy to the world cup bid with all the animation of Roland Rat, but what is he doing about—[Interruption.] I hope that the Minister is more successful in sport, and that he takes a leaf out of Roland Rat's book because Roland Rat was rather successful at TV-am.
What is the Minister doing about the situation at Wembley? He will be aware that, in football circles, there is growing concern about the lack of progress towards the all-important redevelopment that is needed if we are to have a world-class stadium in time not only for the world 7 cup bid, but for the athletics championships. What is he doing to bring Brent council to the table in order to achieve progress on that important development?
§ Mr. BanksOne thing I can tell the hon. Gentleman is that I will not rat on England's chances of securing the world cup in 2006, and I hope that he will not either, because I have been obliged to him and his hon. Friend the Member for West Suffolk (Mr. Spring) for their support for that campaign.
The development of the new national stadium at Wembley is proceeding, and we shall unveil the proposals for that stadium toward the end of next month. I think that the hon. Gentleman will be satisfied because, together with his hon. Friend, he will be invited to the presentation and they will be able to see exactly what is proposed. We are confident that the new stadium will be available and open by early 2003 at the latest. That will give us the opportunity to use it for the 2005 world athletics championship.
The new stadium remains the centrepiece of England's 2006 bid. I assure the hon. Gentleman that I have held discussions with my Labour colleagues on Brent council and we are keeping them posted because we do not want a public inquiry at the end of all this. Stage by stage, they have been involved in the negotiations. Although those negotiations are not being carried out directly by me, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I are taking a close interest in the development of the new national stadium at Wembley. I know that it will be the envy of the world when it opens in 2003.
§ Mr. Peter L. Pike (Burnley)May I assure my hon. Friend that all those who are interested in football in this country are fully behind him? We congratulate him and the team who are fighting for the 2006 games and welcome his comments about the stadium. However, the issue is not merely the new stadium at Wembley, but the transport infrastructure. Can he assure us that that infrastructure will be able to meet demand far better than the current, quite appalling, system?
§ Mr. BanksI am grateful for my hon. Friend's comments about the 2006 campaign. We are asking all football supporters-not only Manchester United supporters, but all those who might like to have played Manchester United in the early rounds of the FA cup-to accept that Manchester United's exclusion from next year's FA cup, if it decides to accept the offer presented by the FA, is a one-off that is being done in the wider interests of English football. Football fans are just as capable of recognising national effort and national interest as anyone else in this country, and I know that they will do so.
My hon. Friend is absolutely right about Wembley: it would be pointless to have a brand-new stadium in the mess that is that part of the lovely borough of Brent. We are taking such matters into consideration because the whole proposal for the national stadium must be consistent with improvements to transport infrastructure.