• Question by: Bob Blackman
• Meeting date: 14 June 2006

One of the problems about any sort construction like this is the original surveys of the land to make sure the condition is such. Are you satisfied that the surveys that have been done are sufficiently robust to then defend the inflation and the costs expected?

• Question by: Dee Doocey
• Meeting date: 14 June 2006

I understand all that, but is that the budget you are working to?

• Question by: Bob Blackman
• Meeting date: 14 June 2006

Given the experience within my constituency, in Brent and Harrow at Wembley Stadium, where the cost of rebuilding the stadium now is, at conservative estimates with a small `c', five times the original value that was expected, are you going to undertake a review of that particular project as part of the review of the bid documents?

• Question by: Brian Coleman
• Meeting date: 14 June 2006

I wonder if therefore it would be helpful if you could give the answer to the next question from Bob Blackman on construction costs before all those Members who have indicated they want to talk on finance. Can you just cover the issue of rise in inflation in relation to construction costs as you have raised it?

• Question by: Dee Doocey
• Meeting date: 14 June 2006

Therefore you are not working to a situation, for example, where you think you might at this stage go over budget? You are working to the assumption, at this stage, that it will be within the bid book, is that right?

• Question by: Dee Doocey
• Meeting date: 14 June 2006

You are going to give them away, not sell them? Sorry, the bid book says the regional authorities receiving the arenas will be the owners and will be responsible for the operating and maintenance costs. That suggests to me that you are perhaps suggesting that one of them is going to Manchester, another is going to Liverpool. However what you are saying now is that they might be going to companies that specialise in temporary seating.

• Question by: Dee Doocey
• Meeting date: 14 June 2006

But there is no funding assumed in the budget for those facilities? If they are given away they will be given away rather than sold.

• Question by: Dee Doocey
• Meeting date: 14 June 2006

I understand that. I have just got one other question, which is specific. According the bid book, there were six arenas that were going to be deconstructed and moved to other locations. Does the budget assume that there is an income stream from those? I know that when it goes to other parts of the UK, that that particular authority is responsible for the ongoing costs, but what about the deconstruction costs? Is there an assumption that these arenas are going to be sold, or is a crane just going to come in and pick up some kind of arena...

• Question by: Dee Doocey
• Meeting date: 14 June 2006

So by the end of the year?

• Question by: Dee Doocey
• Meeting date: 14 June 2006

But there is no funding assumed in the budget for those facilities? If they are given away they will be given away rather than sold.