§ Mr. FaberTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when the proposal for a national athletics stadium was first discussed by his Department with(a) UK Athletics and (b) Sport England. [113944]
§ Kate Hoey[holding answer 14 March 2000]: The concept of a national athletics stadium emerged in discussions with UK Athletics, the British Olympic Association and Sport England about non-Wembley options for staging athletics events shortly after the announcement made to the House by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 1 December 1999, Official Report, columns 305–13.
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§ Mr. FaberTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations he has received since 3 March from Sport England on the subject of a possible venue for the 2005 World Athletics Championships. [113943]
§ Kate Hoey[holding answer 14 March 2000]: Sport England have submitted an analysis of the cost and design issues related to the brief for a venue for the 2005 World Athletics Championships proposed by UK Athletics along with an evaluation of potential sites against criteria discussed and agreed between my Department, the Government Office for London, UK Sport, UK Athletics, the 2005 Bid Team and the BOA.
§ Mr. FaberTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what financial and other support he proposes to give to support bids for venues for major athletics events in England. [113935]
§ Kate Hoey[holding answer 14 March 2000]: My Department offers, and will continue to offer, full support to the work being taken forward by Sport England, UK Sport, UK Athletics and the British Olympic Association to establish a venue for major athletics events in England. The Government's decision not to proceed with the Wembley athletics option, combined with the extra £20 million which the Football Association proposes is returned, will create a real opportunity for athletics to develop a permanent legacy for future generations of UK athletes and one which will not rule out a future Olympic bid.