HC Deb 19 October 2001 vol 372 cc1378-9W
Mr. Evans

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what actions the Government have taken to maintain the United Kingdom's bid for the 2005 World Athletics Championships. [7694]

Mr. Caborn

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to the hon. Member fir South Suffolk (Mr. Yeo) on 15 October 2001,Official Report, column 815W.

Mrs. Lait

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what reasons underlay the rejection of the Crystal Palace athletics complex as the officially recommended venue for the world athletics championship to be based in London. [8866]

Mr. Caborn

Patrick Carter's review of the Picketts Lock project commissioned by Sport England looked at a number of alternative venues for staging the world athletics championships in 2005, including Crystal Palace. Mr. Carter concluded that Crystal Palace was not a viable alternative venue for the 2005 championships due to the range of significant risks in delivering the necessary improvements to the stadium, athletes' accommodation and transport infrastructure.

Mr. Hoyle

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the use of the Commonwealth Stadium in Manchester for the world athletics championships. [8737]

Mr. Caborn

Patrick Carter's review of the Picketts Lock project commissioned by Sport England looked at a number of alternative venues for staging the world athletics championships in 2005. Following receipt of Patrick Carter's report, DCMS and Sport England officials initiated discussions with representatives of Manchester city council and Sheffield city council. The other alternative venues considered by Patrick Carter either offered no certainty of being delivered on time or no significantly lesser risk or cost than Picketts Lock.

The Government are grateful to Manchester and Sheffield city councils for their assistance in this process. It was clear that both cities would be suitable for staging the championships. However the costs of delaying the reconfiguration of the City of Manchester Stadium into football mode and the costs of compensation to Manchester city council and Manchester City football club would have exceeded the costs of improving the existing Don Valley Stadium in Sheffield.

Mr. Reed

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate she made of the on-going revenue cost of Picketts Lock; and if she will make a statement. [9083]

Mr. Caborn

Patrick Carter's review of the Picketts Lock project commissioned by Sport England included an assessment that the Picketts Lock centre would run at an annual deficit of between £1 million and £1.5 million. Patrick Carter's report is available from the Sport England website on www.sportengland.org.uk.

Mr. Reed

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what discussions were held with the International Association of Athletics Federations at Edmonton about the Picketts Lock athletics project; [9081]

(2) if she will list the meetings held by her Department with the International Association of Athletics Federation officials in Edmonton during the World Athletics Championships. [9080]

Mr. Caborn

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to the hon. Member for South Suffolk (Mr. Yeo) on 15 October,Official Report, column 815W.