Nearly 1 million London households will be paying more than £20 per year for the Olympics

6.01.20pm GMT Wed 14th Dec 2005

At Mayor's Question Time this morning in City Hall, London Assembly Liberal Democrats will reveal that a third of all households in London will be paying more than the average £20 a year towards the costs of the 2012 London Olympic games.

Liberal Democrat London Assembly Olympics spokesperson Dee Doocey said:

"We have consistently been told by the Mayor of London that the average cost to council tax payers for the Olympics will be £20 per year per household. However I think Londoners have a right to know what they will actually be paying. If you live in a house that is rated in Band E or above, you could be paying up to double that. Over 990,000 homes fall into this category, a third of all households in London."

"The Mayor and government have so far refused to limit the costs of the Olympics that will fall on London's council tax payers. Although the stated cost is an average of £20 for up to 12 years, if the cost of the Olympics overruns then Londoners will pick up that shortfall. If the costs were to overrun by just 20%, this could mean a doubling of the amount required from Council Tax payers in the capital."

"Ken Livingstone must come to his senses and make sure that Londoners are protected - there must be a cap on the Olympic precept."

ENDS

Notes to Editors

The Olympic precept will commence in 2006/7 and will last for 10 years (extended to 12 if necessary).

Council Tax Band Olympic Precept per year Number of homes Percentage Totals (Number) Totals (%)

A £13.33 108,627 3.4

B £15.56 433,879 13.5

C £17.78 856,883 26.7

D £20 814,929 25.4 A-D: 69% A-D: 2,214,318

E £24.44 490,775 15.3

F £28.89 245,475 7.7

G £33.33 199,600 6.2

H £40 54,970 1.7 E-H: 31% E-H: 990,820

TOTAL 3,205,138 A-H: 3,205,138

If the costs of the Games were to go up to £3 billion, i.e. an increase of £625 million, then this cost will be met by the National Lottery, and the Mayor.