HC Deb 26 January 1994 vol 236 cc243-4W
Mr. Litherland

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has examined the accounts for the Manchester Olympic Bid Committee; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Baldry

The Manchester Olympic Bid Committee was established under the Companies Acts as a company limited by guarantee. It has no legal link with my Department.

However, since the company received £2.2 million in grant on a pound for pound basis to cover the cost of preparing the bid, my department carried out an internal audit to access the adequacy of the arrangements established by the company to safeguard public funds. The report found that the accounting arrangements were generally satisfactory and the terms of the grant letter were being met.

My right hon. Friend expects to receive a copy of the final audited accounts in due course.

Mr. Litherland

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the cost of the commitment given by the Sports Council, the Department of National Heritage and the Prime Minister, including all travel costs, of the Manchester olympic bid campaign.

Mr. Baldry

The Government committed some £75 million to support the Manchester olympic bid. This comprised £35.5 million for the arena; up to £30 million for the acquisition and clearance of the Eastlands site, which is ongoing; £6.4 million for the velodrome, plus £2 million from the Sports Council; £2.2 million to support the activities of the Manchester Olympic Bid Committee.

The Prime Minister and Ministers from a number of Government Departments met International Olympic Committee members on a number of occasions at home and overseas to discuss the olympic bid. Most of the meetings took place in the course of normal departmental business and, therefore, the costs fell within existing departmental running cost budgets. Information about these costs is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.