HL Deb 14 January 1991 vol 524 cc980-2

3.5 p.m.

Lord Wade of Chorlton asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their view of the possibility of holding the Olympic Games in Great Britain in 2000.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment (Baroness Blatch)

My Lords, as with other major sports events, we stand ready to offer whatever promotional support we can. However, it is for the British Olympic Association to decide whether there should be a British bid.

Lord Wade of Chorlton

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that reply. Is she aware that the British Olympic Committee decided to go for a British bid again for the year 2000 and that the City of Manchester put in an extremely effective and professional bid for 1996? I believe that it would be in the best interests of all those who wish to see the Olympic Games held here that we should support the Manchester bid again. Does she agree with me that it would be in the best interests of the United Kingdom as a whole to have the games in such a place? There is great support for the idea in the whole area. Will she confirm that the whole of the United Kingdom would benefit from the Olympic Games being held in Manchester in the year 2000?

Baroness Blatch

My Lords, it would be inappropriate for me to do so, given that the responsibility for choosing which bid should go forward lies with the Olympic Committee itself. I agree with my noble friend that the bid put up by Manchester was indeed very impressive. My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for the Environment at the time was present in Tokyo when the bid was made. It is quite clear that a great impression was created by Manchester. As for the other factors mentioned by my noble friend, they will feature in any application to be considered as a bid to go forward.

Lord Mellish

My Lords, does the Minister agree that e correct impression should go out from this House? Is it not a fact that London has also made a very impressive bid which is not only as good as Manchester's but better? Would it not be a good idea for the noble Baroness to rise and say nice things about London for a change?

Baroness Blatch

My Lords, it is for that very reason that I said that it would not be appropriate for this House to have a view about which was the best bid. All bids will go forward and it is for the British Olympic Association to ensure which bid goes forward for the main games.

Lori Barnett

My Lords, I do not wish to see the Minister give any support to either side; nevertheless does she recognise that London is already sufficiently cluttered up and that the Greater Manchester area would be a very suitable area in which to hold the Olympics?

Baroness Blatch

My Lords, I shall have to continue my even-handedness in this affair.

Baroness Blackstone

My Lords, given the enormous prestige and economic potential of staging the Olympic Games, will the Minister assure the House that any bid will have the full support of the Government? Will she also say what kind of resources and technical support the Government will give to the British Olympic Association in presenting the bid?

Baroness Blatch

My Lords, it is entirely appropriate for the Government to give diplomatic promotional support and other practical support. It is worth noting in the case of Manchester that the infrastructure expenditure, which would have been a constituent part of supporting the bid at that time, will by 1996 have reached £500 million.

Lord Tordoff

My Lords, in addition to the obvious fact that Manchester is a highly superior city to London, does the Minister agree that to have such investment in an area of high unemployment and considerable deprivation, and away from the chaos of London, would be beneficial to the country as a whole?

Baroness Blatch

My Lords, I cannot agree because it is inappropriate for me to say which part of the country should be successful in its bid for the next Olympic Games. Bids will be eligible for the urban aid programme provided that they meet the criteria. The infrastructure will be a contingent part of any bid made for the games.

Baroness Phillips

My Lords, does the Minister agree that it is important that we should not argue about the relative value of the different cities but that we should work towards holding the games in Britain? That is something which many of us involved in sport and recreation wish to see. We have everything to sell—great athletes and a great country—and the Government should be seen to be supporting the effort.

Baroness Blatch

My Lords, I have no difficulty in responding to the noble Baroness. I concur with my right honourable friend the Prime Minister who looks forward to attending the games in the year 2000 and hopes that they will be placed in this country.

Lord Birkett

My Lords, does the Minister agree that staging the Olympic Games implies the building of a wide range of facilities which are badly needed in this country? Does she further agree that Manchester could use those facilities as well as any city in the land?

Baroness Blatch

My Lords, the facilities that will be provided will certainly be welcome in Manchester.