HC Deb 23 April 2002 vol 384 cc147-8W
Mr. Purchase

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if the £20 million investment into Wembley National Stadium in addition to the £120 million Lottery grant, will be exclusively to fund transport and infrastructure improvement in the Brent area with no other Treasury moneys being made available to this project. [46190]

Tessa Jowell

Subject to the Football Association and Wembley National Stadium Limited meeting the conditions I set out to the House on 19 December 2001,Official Report, columns 291–93, it is the Government's intention to make up to £20 million available for non-stadium infrastructure improvements. The current intention is that the Government's grant would repay funds spent by WNSL arising from its agreement with the London borough of Brent pursuant to section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to contribute towards a number of specified infrastructure projects in the Brent area including improvements to stations, roads and public amenities in the area.

The London Development Agency (LDA) has decided to commit up to £21 million to the National Stadium project subject to certain conditions. Any LDA funding will be subject to Treasury approval and will be conditional on the Football Association and WNSL meeting the Government's conditions which I set out on 19 December.

In addition, I would draw my hon. Friend's attention to the announcement my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions made in response to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Brent, North on 12 March 2002, and which appeared on 19 March 2002, Official Report, column 238W that a further £7 million would he made available from his transport provision for improvements to Wembley Park Underground station and that the Mayor of London had also agreed to make available a similar sum.

Mr. Hoyle

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the replacement of the directors of the Wembley Board. [52136]

Tessa Jowell

The Football Association announced on 11 April a new board of Wembley National Stadium Ltd. The FA wished to move from a `representative' board of 12 to a smaller board of seven which contained the core skills of construction/capital project management; finance and marketing. My officials continue to co-operate closely with the FA and Sport England as the FA and WNSL work to address the issues I set out to the House on 19 December 2001,Official Report, columns 291–93.

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