Mr. Philip Dunne (Ludlow) (Con): What the Government's latest estimate is of the likely cost of the 2012 Olympics. [74918]
The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Tessa Jowell): The candidature file set out the key costs of staging the games. Since then, it has become clear that, in certain areas such as security, there are cost pressures. We are seeking to mitigate those pressures wherever we can, by cost reductions and by maximising the value of the Olympic site itself. That work is continuing.
Mr. Dunne: Given last month's confusion over the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games-LOCOG-budget, will the Secretary of State provide the House with an accurate estimate of the Government's contribution to infrastructure improvements in the east end? How much of that is specific to the Olympics, and how much would have been done anyway? Will the Secretary of State consider moving more of the events to places outside London-where facilities either already exist or could be provided more cheaply-such as Much Wenlock in my constituency, which is the home of the modern Olympiad, as she knows?
Tessa Jowell: I know that the hon. Gentleman has been a champion of bringing Olympic benefits to his constituency. I shall be taking part shortly, along with colleagues on both sides of the House, in the Olympic roadshow, which will be travelling around the country between 6 and 27 July. I am quite sure that Much Wenlock is on our itinerary, as it should be. The hon. Gentleman is right to say that the benefits of the Olympic games-which will be considerable in economic terms-should be felt around the country, and that is the overriding purpose of the Olympic tour.
In relation to the hon. Gentleman's first question, I am sure that he will understand that the answer will depend on the conclusion of discussions and negotiations about the balance between the publicly funded parts of the Olympic park and those that might be funded by the private sector. It will be easier to give him an accurate answer when the Olympic Delivery Authority publishes its corporate plan in the autumn.
