Jowell alert over Wembley dispute

CULTURE Secretary Tessa Jowell has sought urgent assurances that the new Wembley stadium will be finished on time, Financial Mail on Sunday has learned.

The £750m project has been rocked by a dispute between lead contractor Multiplex and Cleveland Bridge, which designed and built the stadium's arch. Cleveland has been replaced by Dutch firm Hollandia.

Last week, the Football Association and Wembley National Stadium, which own the ground in north London, were warned by former Health Secretary Alan Milburn that delays were inevitable.

It is believed that Milburn had been briefed by union experts and executives from Cleveland Bridge, which is based in the MP's constituency in Darlington, County Durham.

The stadium is due to open in time for the FA Cup Final in 2006, but Milburn has warned of delays of up to nine months.

A spokesman for Jowell, who is at the Olympics in Athens, said she was in touch with developments.

'This is an important project and there is £120m of Lottery money in it. The Minister has been assured there will be no delay,' he said.

A Wembley spokesman said: 'I think the current rows will be forgotten. The FA is well protected. It is a fixed-price contract. Any overruns or delays will be paid for by Multiplex. At the moment, we are sitting back and giving them a bit of space.'