HC Deb 15 October 2001 vol 372 cc815-6W
Mr. Yeo

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much(a) Lottery and (b) Treasury money has been spent on the project to build a national athletics stadium at Picketts Lock. [7924]

Tessa Jowell

Sport England has spent £1.57 million on the development of the National Athletics Centre project. All of this is from the lottery sports fund. No Exchequer money has been spent to develop the project.

Mr. Yeo

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) when the Carter report into Wembley Stadium and Picketts Lock was commissioned; [7922]

  1. (2) when she will publish the Carter report into Wembley Stadium and Picketts Lock; [7932]
  2. (3) when she received the Carter report into Wembley Stadium and Picketts Lock. [7934]

Tessa Jowell

I announced the review of National Stadium project on 25 June 2001,Official Report, column 37W. Sport England commissioned the review of the Lee Valley National Athletics Centre project on 2 July 2001, Official Report, column 79W.

I received copies of both reports on 31 August 2001.

The Lee Valley Report was published by Sport England on 4 October. The Government have no current plans to publish Patrick Carter's report on the National Stadium as this would compromise the discussions that Patrick Carter is currently having with the Football Association.

Mr. Yeo

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what is her policy on support for (1) a single national stadium for(a) football, (b) rugby and (c) athletics; [7930]

(2) national stadia for (a) football, (b) rugby and (c) athletics. [7928]

Tessa Jowell

The Government continue to be guided by the governing bodies of sport as to the merits of a national stadium for their respective sports. We fully support the Football Association's aspiration to develop a national stadium and are committed to ensuring that UK Athletics has a robust legacy to enable the sport to invest and grow in the longer term. It is for UK Athletics to determine whether this legacy should include a National Athletics Centre and to discuss any future plans with Sport England to ensure such aspirations are viable and sustainable over the longer term.