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Business of the House

May I draw the attention of the Leader of the House to early-day motion 1035, on council tax and the London Olympics? [That this House notes the memorandum of understanding drawn up between the Mayor of London and the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport in 2003 setting a clear maximum contribution by Londoners to the cost of hosting the 2012 London Olympics; notes with concern that, since the Games were awarded to London in July 2005, neither the Secretary of State nor the Mayor have been willing to confirm a cap on what London council tax payers will be expected to contribute; and calls on the Mayor of London and the Secretary of State to give Londoners a categorical assurance that no band D London council tax payer will be asked for any more than £20 a year for 12 years as their contribution to the Games.] Back in 2003, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the Mayor of London and the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport setting the maximum contribution that Londoners would make through council tax to the Olympics at £625 million. However, since the Olympics were successfully won for Britain and for London, the Secretary of State has been unwilling to confirm that that maximum contribution is still £625 million and that there will be a cap. May we have an early statement from the Secretary of State so that London MPs and others can secure, on behalf of council tax payers in London, that guarantee of a cap on the amount that Londoners will have to pay?