World Cup: Football

Debate between Lord Pannick and Baroness Garden of Frognal

Wednesday 8th December 2010 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Garden of Frognal]

Again, my noble friend makes a very valid point but, I think, that is outside the remit of government to control.

[Lord Pannick]

My Lords, can the Minister confirm the accuracy of a report in the Guardian newspaper on 1 December that, as a condition of being allowed to bid, the Government agreed to exempt FIFA and its representatives from aspects of the money-laundering regulations if they were to come to this country for the tournament in 2018? Can she also confirm that no such extraordinary condition was imposed by the IOC in relation to the Olympic bid for London 2012?

[Baroness Garden of Frognal]

My Lords, a number of conditions were agreed by the previous Administration before the bid went forward and guarantees were required by FIFA. The guarantees were generic and did not take into account matters such as EU law. There were also some things that we were required to do—for example, we were required to charge VAT by EU law—but we made it clear to FIFA that, as with the Olympics, arrangements would be put in place to minimise the impact and not distort our own systems.