§ Mr. Nigel JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with the authorities in Botswana over the hosting of the Football World Cup in 2006. [93143]
§ Mr. BanksDuring my visit to Botswana from 26-30 April with the Football Association I met the hon. Lt. Gen. Mompati S. Merafhe MP, Botswanan Minister for Foreign Affairs, the hon. B. K. Temane MP, Minister for Labour and Home Affairs, the Chairman and representatives of the Botswanan Football Association. I discussed a number of sports issues including UEFA's Meridian Project which links the English FA with Botswana, the significance of sport in national development and the forthcoming Botswanan White Paper on Sports Policy. I also took the opportunity to outline the merits of the FA's bid for the 2006 World Cup. The meetings were extremely useful and productive, and built upon the excellent bi-lateral relations which already exist between our two countries.