§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has received from the Belfast city council, the Sports Council, and the Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games Council about the possibility of Belfast playing host to the 1986 games; and if he will list the reasons for his rejection of the proposal.
§ Mr. Carter,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 4th December 1978; Vol. 959, c. 550], gave the following information:
Belfast city council, the Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games Council and the Sports Council for Northern Ireland have jointly and individually made representations about the possibility of the 1986 Commonwealth games being held in Belfast.
The Government, in reaching their decision, took account of (a) the cost of providing the necessary facilities, estimates of which have ranged from £14 million to over £25 million;
(b) the additional cost of providing adequate hotel and campus style accommodation;
(c) the effect of such major expenditure on priority programmes such as the restoration and rehabilitation of inner urban areas, particularly Belfast, the attraction of industry and the provision of housing and other public services; and
(d) the unfair allocation of funds that would result if funds for recreational facilities in other parts of Northern Ireland were diverted to provide games facilities in or near Belfast which might not be extensively used after the games had been held.