LIBRARY OF PAST REPORTS

Evennett Challenges Blair on Olympic Cost Overruns


David Evennett, MP for Bexleyheath and Crayford, challenged the Prime Minister, Tony Blair MP, on the spiralling cost of the Olympic Games during Question Time in the House of Commons on Wednesday (28 February). Mr Evennett spoke out as it was alleged that the cost of the Games was approaching £10billion, more than four times higher than the original bid proposal of £2.375bn.

Mr Evennett asked "Given the increasing cost of the Olympics, does the Prime Minister share the concern of London council tax payers, particularly pensioners, about the Olympic levy and those rising costs? If so, what is he going to do about it?".

Mr Blair replied "Obviously, it is important that the Olympic delivery authority will publish its budget in the next few weeks, and that we keep costs properly under control. The Olympics will do an immense amount for London and the whole country. It will be a huge investment in the future of this country and a wonderful showcase. People of whatever age, whether youngsters or pensioners, in whatever part of the country, should be extremely thankful that we have the Olympics. We should make the investment necessary and ensure that the Olympics in 2012 is--as we believe that it will be--the greatest sporting event on earth".

Mr Evennett said afterwards "The Prime Minister simply failed to answer the question. The cost overruns will seriously impact on London council tax payers and the National Lottery as they are likely to be the ones that will make up this spiralling deficit unless the Government foots the additional bill. The Chancellor and the Government must come clean on the cost of the Olympics and ensure that Londoners do not suffer further".

Evennett's Visit To
The United Nations


Bexleyheath and Crayford MP David Evennett was part of a six strong delegation of British Members of Parliament who visited the United Nations in New York this week. Organised by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the MPs were at the UN to learn about the role of the organisation in the twenty-first century and to be briefed on a wide range of international issues.
The programme involved attending a debate in the General Assembly, briefings on Iran and Zimbabwe from the UK Ambassador Emyr Jones Parry, information on peacekeeping across the world, discussions on humanitarian aid and meetings on UN reform. The MPs also met a number of Ambassadors and officials.
Afterwards, Mr Evennett commented "The visit was extremely valuable. I now appreciate better how the UN really works, the problems with the existing structure and the importance of reform of the organisation. The meetings with the British Mission gave us an insight into the difficult diplomatic approaches that are required to get any positive action on political and humanitarian issues."
David Evennett MP is pictured outside the UN Headquarters in New York with fellow MPs Mark Hunter, Tony Cunningham, Natascha Engel, Tom Levitt and Andrew Rosindell.

David Evennett MP together with a few Parliamentary colleagues dined at the House of Commons on Monday evening (17th December) with former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Over a Christmas dinner Mr. Evennett and his colleagues were able to chat with Baroness Thatcher about current political issues.

Evennett Leads Post Office Protests


David Evennett, MP for Bexleyheath and Crayford, met with representatives of Post Office Ltd to discuss the proposed closure of Brampton Road Post Office. During the meeting with Melanie Corfield, Head of External Relations for the South East, and Akudo Ukachukwu, Network External Relations Manager, Mr Evennett said that the Post Office was "signing its own death warrant" by proposing this closure and that the Network Change Programme was damaging the company's reputation.
On Saturday morning (23 February), Mr Evennett led a short rally outside the Brampton Road Post Office, and is pictured speaking with local residents and councillors about the consultation. He said "It is vitally important that as many people as possible register their objections to these proposals. This programme will severely disadvantage local people, especially those with mobility problems, as they will have to travel much further for basic post office services".