§ Bob RussellTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what measures were taken by the Government to ensure that football clubs applying to the Football Foundation and the former Football Trust for grants for improvements to stadiums were awarded them as a result of competitive tendering; and if she will make a statement;[8463]
(2) which clubs received grants from the Football Foundation and the former Football Trust; when such grants were made; and what the value was in each case;[8461]
(3) if she will list those companies, and the football clubs involved, who were awarded contracts for improvements to grounds funded by the Football Foundation and the former Football Trust; what was the value of such grants in each case; when the grants were awarded; and if she will make a statement; [8462]
22W(4) what monitoring has been made of decisions of the Football Foundation and the former Football Trust in allocating grants to football clubs for improvements to stadiums; and if she will make a statement. [8460]
§ Mr. CabornOn the winding-up of the Football Trust in 2000, its work in funding football stadium improvements passed to the Football Stadia Improvement Fund, a company limited by guarantee. Details of all stadium improvement grants made to individual clubs by the Fund, and before it by the former Football Trust, together with details of all grants made since July 2000 by the Football Foundation from its grass roots and community/education funds, are deposited regularly in the Library of the House.
On its inception, the Football Stadia Improvement Fund adopted the tendering policy of the former Football Trust. Contracts for stadium improvement work which is financed by grants from the Fund must be the subject of a minimum of three competitive tenders. In respect of work financed by grants in excess of £100,000, the Fund reserves the right to be present at the opening of the tenders. Although full details of all funded projects are retained by the Fund, and were retained by the former Football Trust, details of individual tenders are not retained by the Fund, and were not retained by the former Football Trust.
The Government monitor the decisions of the Football Stadia Improvement Fund and the Football Foundation through their representative on the Boards of these bodies, currently Lord Pendry. The Government were also represented on the Board of the former Football Trust. The annual accounts of the Fund, the Football Foundation, and the former Football Trust are and were subject to internal and external audit, and are and were submitted to the Audit Commission.