Examination of Witnesses (Questions 140-144)
DEPARTMENT FOR
CULTURE, MEDIA
AND SPORT
AND UK SPORT
2 APRIL 2008
Q140 Mr Davidson: I understand that.
But this is in the newspaper so it must be true and therefore
we would want to be clear from you as the responsible official
whether or not this is following government policy because if
government policy has been evaded on this then who knows what
else is happening.
Mr Stephens: I am very happy to
write back. I would just like to reinforce the point I was making
earlier, that with a very large, very significant budget, £9.3
billion of direct government funding, plus £2 billion at
risk that the government has guaranteed the private sector funding,
I believe that close monitoring and control is absolutely right
and provides and guarantees value for money and control of the
budget, and I have absolutely no problem with defending that level
of resource.
Q141 Mr Davidson: But you were not
aware of this? Despite 48 civil servants you have monitoring it?
Mr Stephens: I want to check the
precise position before replying.
Q142 Mr Bacon: It sounds as if it
is 48, compared with the total expenditure on the Olympics if
it results in better management control then it is probably money
very well spent and the salary bill in proportion is miniscule.
Can you just send us a note with who these 48 people are and what
they do? An organogram with who they are, what rank they are in
the civil service, what they all do and what the cost is?[14]
Mr Stephens: Yes.
Q143 Chairman: It is not strictly
in order but as I make the rules here anyway it does not matter.
When we went to the Olympic site Mr Armitt told us that there
were 80,000 Olympic hangers-on that were going to descend on London
in 2012. What is this story about these people being allowed to
have a special fast name for the sporting nonemclature? This is
very un-British. I hope you are going to stamp on this. Whilst
the rest of us are taking the train out to the site these people
are going to be in special designated lanes.
Mr Stephens: Perhaps I had better
offer a note on that because it is a high priority to make sure
that athletes, participants, officials, referees, umpires, judges
all get to their events on time—that is a major part of
the transport commitment. Perhaps I could write with the details?[15]
Q144 Chairman: But not these 80,000
hangers on? A last point, Mr Stephens. We can see that Ms Nicholl
is an international netball star and we see that Mr Steele is
a successful player and coach, what have you ever done in sport?
Mr Stephens: I think third eleven
at football and cricket, I fear, is the height of my achievements!
Chairman: Thank you very much gentlemen
and lady.
14 Ev 15-16 Back
15
Ev 19 Back
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