§ Earl Attleeasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are concerned that the current serious difficulties on the London Underground system may damage the bid for London to hold the 2012 summer Olympic Games. [HL213]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Lord McIntosh of Haringey)Transport is critical to a successful Olympic Games and one of the key criteria by which the IOC evaluates bid cities. We are confident that London's transport system—including London Underground—is more than up to the task.
The Olympic Transport Strategy team, based in Transport for London (TfL), is drawing up the transport plan for a London Olympics. This will seek to make the best use of London's transport infrastructure—one of the most extensive networks of urban public transport in the world—to provide safe, secure and reliable transport during the Games. Stratford is particularly well served, with seven rail lines running through the Olympic Zone. This will work in our favour. Moreover, extensive 153WA improvements are already planned for the London transport system, including the London Underground PPP, which will deliver on average over £1 billion of investment every year for the next 15 years.