§ Mr. FaberTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list those organisations and individuals outside his Department whom he met in the week beginning 28 February to discuss venues for major athletics events and related issues; and at what time and on what date those meetings were held. [113778]
§ Kate HoeyMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State had no meetings in that week to discuss venues for major athletics events. I met David Moorcroft and Adam Walker from UK Athletics at 2.30pm on 1 March 2000 in my office at DCMS about a range of issues including, possible venues for major athletics events including the 2005 World Athletics Championships.
§ Mr. FaberTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions his Department has had with(a) Sheffield City Council, (b) Gateshead Council, (c) the City of Edinburgh Council and (d) the Scottish Executive about a national athletics stadium; and if he will make a statement. [113818]
§ Kate Hoey[holding answer 13 March 2000]: My Department has had no discussions with representatives from City Councils at Sheffield, Gateshead, Edinburgh or the Scottish Executive about a national athletics stadium.
§ Mr. FaberTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) if he will make a statement on his Department's policy on the location of a national athletics stadium; [114178]
(2) if he will make a statement about his policy on the selection of a venue for a British bid to stage the 2005 World Athletics Championships; [113761]
155W(3) if he will make a statement about his Department's consideration of Twickenham Stadium as a venue for (a) the World Athletics Championships in 2005 and (b) track and field events and opening and closing ceremonies during a London Olympic Games. [113760]
§ Kate Hoey[holding answers 13 March 2000]: Sport England is, together with UK Sport, UK Athletics, the BOA and the Department, undertaking further work on non-Wembley options for staging international athletics events. The Rugby Football Union (RFU) proposed that Twickenham might be used for such events and constructive discussions have taken place between my Department, Sport England, UK Athletics, the BOA, the RFU and the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. Sport England have, in discussion with the parties above, drawn together further information and evaluation criteria and a further announcement will be made shortly.
§ Mr. FaberTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement about his Department's discussions with Manchester City Council about a national athletics stadium. [113937]
§ Kate HoeyMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and I met a delegation from Manchester City Council on 19 January 2000 led by my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Central (Mr. Lloyd), to discuss proposals for holding the 2005 World Athletics Championships. This presentation was followed up by my officials and Sport England who discussed the proposals further with the Chief Executive of Manchester City Council. However, the decision by UK Athletics to submit a London bid for the 2005 World Athletics Championships and the BOA confirming that it will only consider a London based Olympic bid has effectively ruled out Manchester as an option for a national athletics venue. I also understand that the delay caused by redesigning the Manchester stadium upgrade to host the World Athletics Championships could have put the 2002 Commonwealth Games in jeopardy.