HC Deb 25 February 2002 vol 380 cc711-2W
Peter Bradley

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to her statement of 19 December 2001,Official Report, columns 291–93, if she will require Wembley National Stadium Ltd. to publish the findings of the report into its relationship with Multiplex as a condition of the Government's continuing support for the development of the national football stadium at Wembley. [35571]

Tessa Jowell

[holding answer 13 February 2002]: As I explained in my statement, the disclosure of the report produced for the Wembley National Stadium Ltd. Board into the procurement processes relating to the National Stadium project is affected by issues of legal professional privilege and confidentiality. I have asked the Football Association and WNSL to publish it, but because of these issues they are unwilling to do so. The Government do not intend to make its publication a requirement of the Government's support for the project but I will not grant ultimate support unless I am fully assured that the concerns highlighted by the David James/Berwin Leighton Paisner report have been satisfactorily addressed.

Pete Wishart

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the projected increased costs are for a proposed new Wembley Stadium; and how much extra funding the Government will be required to contribute. [37561]

Mr. Caborn

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State set out the Government's position on the Football Association's national stadium project to the House on 19 December 2001,Official Report, columns 291-303. My right hon. Friend also laid before the House on that day the interim report of the English National Stadium Review Team which set out the costs of the revised World Stadium Team design at £715 million including sunk costs. The interim report also set out how these costs would be funded including a Government contribution of up to £20 million for non-stadium infrastructure costs.