Athletics (Hansard, 21 March 2000)

§ Mr. Peter Ainsworth
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with Sport England concerning the availability of £60 million to fund world-class athletics facilities. [115734]

§ Mr. Chris Smith
We have established the principle with Sport England that, subject to the details being worked out a viable application coming forward, the £20 million coming back from the Football Association and up to £40 million which will not now be required for the conversion of Wembley may be available to fund world-class athletics facilities.

§ Mr. Peter Ainsworth
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which sites are still under consideration as possible venues for the 2005 world athletics championships. [115735]

§ Mr. Chris Smith
Sport England and UK athletics are currently considering four London locations—Crystal Palace, Hillingdon, Lee Valley (Hackney Wick/Pickett's Lock) and Twickenham.

§ Mr. Faber
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to his answer of 14 March 2000,Official Report, column 155W, concerning a national athletic stadium, if his Department has discussed with Manchester City Council its proposal for a 18,000 to 20,000 seat permanent athletics stadium to be built on the UKSI site adjacent to the City of Manchester Stadium. [115755]

§ Kate Hoey
As explained in the written reply of 14 March 2000,Official Report, column 155W, officials from my Department and Sport England have discussed proposals for holding the 2005 World Athletics Championships in Manchester with the Chief Executive of Manchester City Council. These discussions included a presentation by Manchester on 21 January at Sport England's offices to officials from UK Athletics, Sport England and DCMS. One of the options discussed during that meeting was the possibility of a permanent national athletics facility on the UKSI site adjacent to the City of Manchester Stadium. However, as my reply of 14 March explained, the decision by UK Athletics to submit a London bid for the 2005 World Athletics Championship and the British Olympic Association confirming that it will only consider a London based Olympic bid has effectively ruled out Manchester as a venue for staging these major events.