§ Lord Moynihanasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many lottery-funded world class performance funded athletes, and from which sports, currently use the training facilities at Crystal Palace National Sports Centre. [HL1265]
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyThere are approximately 25 lottery-funded world class performance athletes who use the training facilities at the National Sports Centre on a regular basis, all from UK athletics.
In addition to this, there are a number of athletes who use the facilities at Crystal Palace on an 20WA occasional basis. These include the Olympic boxing squad, the Olympic weightlifting squad and two world-class divers who use the diving pool.
§ Lord Moynihanasked Her Majesty's Government:
Which sports clubs and schools currently use the facilities at Crystal Palace National Sports Centre for training and competitive purposes. [HL1266]
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyThe sports clubs using the facilities at Crystal Palace are as follows: Blackheath and Bromley Harriers; South London Harriers; Crystal Palace Karate Club; London Weightlifting Club; Bromley Sub Aqua Club; Beckenham Swim Club; Leander Swim Club; Bromley Swim Club; Croydon Swim Club; Saxon Crown Swim Club and Greenwich Swim Club.
The schools using the facilities are as follows: Turney School; Haberdashers School; Noah's Ark School; Woodmansterne School; Streatham Hill and Clapham High School; Oakfield School; Virgo Fidelis School; Rockmount Primary School; Britts School; Herne Hill School; James Dixon School; and the City of London School.
§ Lord Moynihanasked Her Majesty's Government:
What financial commitment has been made to secure the short-term future of the 50-metre swimming pool, the Olympic diving facility, the athletics track and the indoor sports facilities at Crystal Palace National Sports Centre up to the summer of 2006. [HL1267]
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyThe LDA, Bromley and Sport England are involved in detailed discussions on the future of the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre up to the summer of 2006. The financial commitments made are subject to final agreement. There will be an announcement concerning the precise nature of the arrangements once the short-term future has been definitely settled.
§ Lord Moynihanasked Her Majesty's Government:
What financial commitment has been made to secure the long-term future of the 50-metre swimming pool, the Olympic diving facility, the athletics track and the indoor sports facilities at Crystal Palace National Sports Centre after the summer of 2006. [HL1268]
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyWork has focused on securing the short-term future of Crystal Palace National Sports Centre. Once this has been resolved, the long-term future can be considered in more detail. The Crystal Palace Stakeholder Group has concluded that in the long-term a new sports building would be required to meet the needs of users. The group is now consulting local residents' groups, and ascertaining the planning requirements, facility mix, project costs, capital funding and ongoing viability.
21WA
§ Lord Moynihanasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether Sport England will have the ultimate responsibility for deciding the long-term future of the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre. [HL1270]
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyResolving the long-term future of Crystal Palace will require a multi-agency approach, which is why the Crystal Palace Stakeholder group, which includes Sport England as well as DCMS, the London Borough of Bromley, the London Development Agency and the Greater London Authority, was established. Sport England may well also consider an application for lottery funding in due course.
§ Lord Moynihanasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether Sport England is required by the terms of its lease to ensure that Crystal Palace National Sports Centre is returned at a specified standard; what is this standard; and how much money is required to bring the facility up to this standard. [HL1340]
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyThese issues are being addressed by Sport England, the London Borough of Bromley and the London Development Agency as part of the arrangements for securing the future of Crystal Palace National Sports Centre until the summer of 2003. An announcement will be made once final agreement has been reached.
§ Lord Moynihanasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the deadline for an agreed financial package with all interested parties for Crystal Palace National Sports Centre. [HL1343]
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyThe detailed arrangements for the future of Crystal Palace National Sports Centre which include an agreed financial package up to 2006 are reaching the final stages of negotiation. An announcement will be made before the expiry of Sport England's current lease which runs out on 31 March 2004.
§ Lord Moynihanasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether any commitment has been given to host the International Amateur Athletics Federation Grand Prix athletics in July 2004 at Crystal Palace National Sports Centre. [HL1344]
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyUK Athletics has a commitment in place with the IAAF to host the July 2004 Grand Prix event in the UK. The intention is that Crystal Palace will host the event and Fast Track (event promoter) and UK Athletics are fully behind this. The existing track at Crystal Palace needs upgrading to be fit to host the event. Sport England has initiated a tender process and is finalising contract arrangements for the necessary work.