To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much his Department has spent on support for the Football Association's FIFA 2018 World cup bid. (315011)

In addition to staff costs, the Department is making a loan of £2.5 million to the Football Association in support of England's bid to host the 2018 World cup. This money will be used for developing the technical bid and not on entertaining or salaries. It will also be repaid into grass roots football if the bid is unsuccessful, with the loan and a share of the profits from the tournament going into the grass roots if successful. As a result, this represents good value for money for sport.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many officials of his Department are working on the bid for the UK to host the 2018 World cup. (315012)

Four of my officials are currently working on the bid for England to host the 2018 World cup as part of their wider remit that involves all major sporting events.