§ Mr. GardinerTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the suitability of the Copland School site or a location for a warm-up track for the World Athletics Championships in 2005. [104325]
§ Kate Hoey[holding answer 10 January 2000]: The suitability of a number of options for warm up facilities around the stadium at Wembley were considered by Sport England including the Copeland School site. Although providing a lasting legacy for school and community use, Sport England expressed reservations in respect of access to the stadium during an event which would have weakened a World Athletics Championship bid.
§ Mr. GardinerTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what discussions he has had with the Chief Executive of UK Athletics about the feasibility of hosting the World Athletics Championships and an Olympic athletics competition at Twickenham; [104340]
(2) if all seats in the stadium at Twickenham would comply with the C60 minimum sightlines specification of the Green Guide and the Football Stadium Advisory Design Council for a world athletics championship staged there without relocating the site of the present stands; [104329]
(3) what assessment his Department has made of the cost of upgrading the public transport infrastructure at Twickenham so as to make it capable of hosting a world athletics championship and an Olympic athletics competition; [104333]
(4) when designs for the conversion of Twickenham, such as would render it suitable to accommodate a World Athletics Championship and an Olympic athletics competition, will be ready for submission to the local planning authority; [104341]
(5) what assessment he has made of the cost of demolishing and rebuilding the South Stand at Twickenham on a (a) hydraulic and (b) roller system so as to accommodate an athletics track suitable for hosting a world athletics championship and Olympic athletics competition and of providing additional infill seating between the new south stand and the existing east and west stands, inclusive of lost revenue whilst such alterations are being carried out; [104342]
(6) what assessment he has made of the cost ofupgrading seating and corporate hospitality at Twickenham to render it suitable to host a World Athletics Championship and Olympic athletic competition; [104337]
(7) what assessment he has made as to whether the timescale for converting Twickenham into a stadium capable of hosting the World Athletics Championship and an Olympic athletics competition will allow a successful bid for the 2005 World Athletics Championships; [104339]
(8) what assessment he has made of the need to upgrade the corporate hospitality facilities at Twickenham as part of a bid to host the 2005 World Athletics Championships and an Olympic athletic competition; [104336]
349W(9) what investigations he has made into locating a suitable warm-up track for the 2005 World Athletics championships close to Twickenham. [104324]
§ Kate Hoey[holding answer 10 January 2000]: Sport England, together with UK Sport, UK Athletics, the BOA and the Department, is undertaking further work on non-Wembley options for staging international athletics events. The Rugby Football Union (RFU) proposed that Twickenham might be used for such events and constructive discussions are underway between the Department, Sport England, UK Athletics, the BOA, the RFU and the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. A further announcement will be made once this work is completed.