To ask the Minister for the Olympics what assessment the Government Olympic Executive (GOE) has made since December 2008 of the economic effects of the London 2012 Olympics on (a) Essex and (b) Southend West constituency; what recent discussions she had with the GOE on this issue; and if she will make a statement. (275613)

The Government Olympic Executive has not made a specific assessment of the economic effects of the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics on Essex or Southend West. However, the East of England stands to gain from the wide range of opportunities created by the London 2012 games. These include businesses winning games-related work, increased tourism and improved skills and employment opportunities. The games, including pre-games training camps, will enable regions to attract inward investment and showcase themselves on an international stage, and UK Trade and Investment are helping businesses to use 2012 as a springboard for export.

We are already seeing progress in a lot of these areas, for example 23 of the Olympic Delivery Authority's suppliers are businesses registered in Essex. Additionally, 66 facilities from the region, including Southend Leisure and Tennis Centre in Essex are included in the official London 2012 Pre-Games Training Camp Guide.

To ask the Minister for the Olympics how many suppliers based in (a) Southend-on-Sea and (b) Essex have been awarded contracts by the Olympic Delivery Authority to date; and if she will make a statement. (275614)

To the end of March 2009, 23 suppliers registered in Essex had been awarded contracts by the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA). Currently no businesses registered in Southend-on-Sea are directly supplying the ODA.

The East of England Development Agency recently organised a programme of events for the chairman of the ODA, John Armitt on 18 March, which included a visit to a major business conference at Colchester FC and meetings with companies in the region that have won work supplying the ODA. Details of this and similar events, and information on CompeteFor (the electronic brokerage service for buyers and suppliers) are provided in the business section of the London 2012 website:

www.london2012.com