§ Mr. GreenwayTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to underwrite the cost of(a) developing the proposed new athletics stadium at Picketts Lock and (b) staging the 2005 World Athletics Championships. [156363]
§ Kate Hoey[holding answer 2 April 2001]: We are fully committed to the successful staging of the IAFF World Athletics Championships in 2005 at the new Lee Valley Stadium. The Government are currently working with the project team to reduce the gap between the funding committed and the likely costs of the project, which are estimated overall to be between £83 million and £87 million.
§ Mr. GreenwayTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what firm commitments he has received from(a) Sport England, b) The Lee Valley Forum, (c) UK Sport and (d) other sources for the funding of the proposed new athletics stadium at Picketts Lock. [156365]
§ Kate Hoey[holding answer 2 April 2001]: Sport England have allocated within their budget up to £60 million to the Lee Valley National Athletics Centre. A further £7 million is available from the Lottery Sports Fund for the dedicated high performance centre which will be integrated with the stadium. Both these sums are subject to a satisfactory application for lottery funding being made.
The Lee Valley Regional Park Authority have committed £5 million to the project UK Sport does not fund capital projects of this kind.