Londoners payment for the Olympics must be capped

4.35.49pm GMT Wed 16th Nov 2005

At today's Mayor's Question Time at City Hall, Liberal Democrat London Assembly member Dee Doocey will be asking on behalf of all London's Council Taxpayers for a categorical assurance from Mayor Ken Livingstone that the council tax payers will not be asked to pay more than £20 a year (in a Band D house) towards funding the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Dee Doocey, who also chairs the London Assembly's Economic, Culture, Sport and Tourism Committee speaking before the meeting said:

"The Games offers a wonderful opportunity for London and indeed the whole nation. From going around the capital, I know that Londoners are happy to pay their share of the staging costs, but they need firm evidence that these costs will be capped.

"Government Ministers and the Mayor of London saying "trust us" is not that categorical assurance. At Mayor's Question Time I want the Mayor of London's promise on record - no Band D London Council taxpayer will be asked for any more than £20 a year for 12 years as their contribution to the Games."