HC Deb 24 January 2000 vol 343 cc87-8W
Mr. Paul Marsden

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the bodies consulted on the design of the proposed ramped area from the external road to the olympic track of the English National Stadium Project; and if he will make a statement. [102391]

Kate Hoey

The design of the ramp area was a matter for Wembley National Stadium Ltd. (WNSL) as part of its overall brief for the design of the stadium.

Mr. Gardiner

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on what basis he seeks to recover moneys from the Lottery award for the development of the English National Stadium at Wembley. [104327]

Kate Hoey

[holding answer 10 January 2000]: Sport England, the Football Association and WNSL are currently considering whether amendments are necessary to the existing Lottery Funding Agreement to reflect Wembley's new role as the centrepiece for football and rugby league in England. In the light of the prospective agreement, the Football Association has proposed that £20 million be returned to Sport England.

Mr. Gardiner

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the additional costs of building the new Wembley Stadium in athletics mode with a capacity of 80,000, rather than in football mode with a capacity of 90,000. [104326]

Kate Hoey

[holding answer 10 January 2000]: I understand that although preliminary discussions took place between Wembley National Stadium, Sport England and UK Athletics about proposals to build the new stadium at Wembley in athletics mode with a capacity of 80,000, no estimates of additional costs were made.

Mr. Gardiner

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of proposals to offset the costs of building the athletics platform at Wembley Stadium against the corporate hospitality rights owned by UK Athletics. [104338]

Kate Hoey

[holding answer 10 January 2000]: The use of corporate hospitality rights at the new Wembley Stadium during an athletics event would be a matter for commercial negotiation between Wembley National Stadium Ltd. (WNSL) and the event organiser, UK Athletics. While preliminary discussions had taken place between WNSL and UK Athletics in which the Government did not take part, I understand that no firm agreements had been reached.

Mr. Gardiner

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which condition of the Lottery Funding Agreement for the development of the English National Stadium at Wembley has been breached. [104328]

Kate Hoey

[holding answer 10 January 2000]: The question of whether the conditions of a Lottery Funding Agreement have been breached are a matter for the Lottery distributor, in this case Sport England.