---

Budget (Northern Ireland) Order 2006

I pick up one point with the noble Lord, Lord Kilclooney, which has been close to my heart in one way or another for many years. He spoke of a stadium for all purposes. For many years, I tried to get people interested in a stadium for Northern Ireland. I have gone cold on that idea, because I have been closely involved in funding—and not directly managing, but overseeing—a number of stadiums in this country; the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff for one; Hampden Park of Dreams for another. I know of the huge difficulties in financially maintaining a stadium of any size without an owner or home playing team. It does not matter where you go. Thank goodness we did not get involved with Wembley, but I was closely associated with all the arguments about it as a Millennium Commissioner years ago. The Millennium Stadium in Wales cost £150 million delivered complete. We do not know what Wembley is going to cost, but it will certainly be at least £1 billion. As far as I am concerned, Wembley belongs to the Football Association. It is largely private sector stuff, and there is no, or very little, public money in it. I am delighted. If some entrepreneurs would love to build a multi-purpose stadium in Northern Ireland, I would be delighted, but I would not support any sizeable amount of government money going into that project. It would be nice to have, but we have far too many other environmental infrastructure needs ahead of us, long before a £150 million to £300 million stadium. If we do not want one that size, that is fine. In the days when I was looking at it, we were talking about a 10,000-11,000-seater, but I do not think anyone would be very happy with that. I am sorry to differ with the noble Lord, Lord Kilclooney, for whose judgement I have great admiration, but I would like to see this one on the back burner.