Hugh Robertson (Shadow Minister (Sport), The Family & Culture, Media & Sport; Faversham & Mid Kent, Conservative)

I beg to move amendment No. 63, in clause 32, page 22, line 31, after ‘London’, insert

‘which are hosting an Olympic event’.

The effect of the amendment is fairly obvious. The clause deals with the powers given to the Greater London authority. In subsection (2)(h)—[Interruption.] What is going on outside? [Interruption.]

Jimmy Hood (Lanark & Hamilton East, Labour)

Order.

Hugh Robertson (Shadow Minister (Sport), The Family & Culture, Media & Sport; Faversham & Mid Kent, Conservative)

Subsection (2)(h) seems amazingly wide-ranging to us. It allows the Greater London authority to take action in respect of places outside London. I presume that the point in drawing up that provision was to give the GLA power over those places that host Olympic events. Our amendment aims to tie that down, precisely to test whether that is indeed the purpose of the clause, and to ensure that the GLA does not have a much wider-ranging power.

Richard Caborn (Minister of State (Sport), Department for Culture, Media & Sport; Sheffield Central, Labour)

I accept that there is a lot of logic behind the amendment. The rationale behind allowing the GLA to take action in respect of places outside London is that the council tax precept will be used to fund the Olympic Delivery Authority, which, although focused on the lower Lee valley, will undertake work across the whole country. However, we obviously expect the ODA’s work to focus on Olympic venues and associated facilities, such as park and ride, so there may be a way of being clearer about the Mayor’s activities outside London. At the same time, we want to ensure that any amendment will not unnecessarily complicate funding arrangements for the ODA. I give the hon. Gentleman the assurance that we will give the matter further consideration, and we will return to it on Report, if that is acceptable to him.

Hugh Robertson (Shadow Minister (Sport), The Family & Culture, Media & Sport; Faversham & Mid Kent, Conservative)

I thank the Minister for that. The issue was brought to our attention by a number of boroughs in London that are understandably concerned about it. We look forward to any future reply, and I beg to ask leave to withdraw the amendment.

Jo Swinson (Shadow Minister, Culture, Media & Sport; East Dunbartonshire, Liberal Democrat)

I beg to move amendment No. 11, in clause 32, page 22, line 34, at end insert—

‘(aa)the Olympic Delivery Authority,

(ab)the London boroughs,’.

The amendment is straightforward. I am afraid that we are back to the subject of lists and which bodies or individuals should be consulted, in this case by the GLA. Under the clause, the Secretary of State, the British Olympic Association and LOCOG are listed. That leads to the obvious question: why not the Olympic Delivery Authority, which will have responsibility for the preparation and delivery of the Olympics? I would argue that the London boroughs would also be sufficiently important to be on the list. After all, London boroughs will be responsible for collecting the council tax funding, to the tune of roughly £20 per household per year, so they will obviously have a keen interest in how the GLA uses the powers in the Bill.

In addition, including London boroughs in the list would increase accountability. London boroughs, through their elected members and councillors, and indeed business and cultural communities, have many ways of involving these bodies and groups in the wider project. The amendment questions the Minister as to why the ODA and London boroughs have been left off the list.

Richard Caborn (Minister of State (Sport), Department for Culture, Media & Sport; Sheffield Central, Labour)

I agree with the hon. Lady’s sentiments; it is vital that, wherever possible, we take a consultative and co-operative approach to deliver the 2012 games, as we have done throughout the Bill.

The clause already provides that the GLA, when exercising its functions under the clause, should have regard to the desirability of consulting and co-operating with other persons with useful experience or knowledge. I would expect this to cover bodies such as the ODA and the London boroughs. The named consultees in the clause—the Secretary of State, the BOA and LOCOG—are members of the Olympic board, and are the bodies with overall financial and contractual responsibilities for the delivery of the games. The GLA should be required to consult members of the Olympic board in the first instance, but should also consult bodies such as the ODA and London boroughs when appropriate. That is provided for in the Bill as it is drafted. With those assurances, I hope that the hon. Lady will withdraw her amendment.

Jo Swinson (Shadow Minister, Culture, Media & Sport; East Dunbartonshire, Liberal Democrat)

In the light of those assurances I beg to ask leave to withdraw the amendment.