HC Deb 10 May 1993 vol 224 cc485-7
8. Mr. Harry Greenway

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans he has for the millennium fund; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Brooke

Subject to the views of another place, the millennium fund will finance a number of projects, large and small, throughout the United Kingdom to celebrate fittingly the beginning of the third millennium. I hope that the fund will also endow a system of bursaries.

Mr. Greenway

May I have my right hon. Friend's assurance that the millennium fund will not be used only to fund monuments in London and in the rest of the country, although they may have a place? Could not an imaginative scheme be developed to advance the cause of individuals and the welfare of people as we move into the third millennium and seek to establish a completely new spirit for the whole nation and for the world?

Mr. Brooke

In 1851 and in 1951, which are the most recent parallels and analogies, when my party was not in power, the monuments were concentrated heavily in London. I do not know who will be in power when the millennium is celebrated, although I have great confidence in my own party. One thing of which I hope I can be certain is that the monuments will be spread throughout the United Kingdom.

In the context of my hon. Friend's question, as I said, I hope that there will also be bursaries. I hope that they will be enjoyed not only by those starting out on their careers but by those starting out in retirement and that that will be in the spirit of what my hon. Friend seeks.

Mr. Dalyell

Could millennium funds be diverted to the Albert memorial? Is it not a fact that, because of deterioration related to copper sulphate and iron oxide, any repairs will be more difficult and infinitely more expensive in 1994 than they would be if they were done straight away, in 1993? Is not this a classic case of a stitch in time saving nine?

Mr. Brooke

All uses of lottery funds will be decided by those named as the distributors under the National Lottery etc. Bill. It will be for the distributors to decide on the quality of applications on the basis of the advice that they receive. I recognise that the Albert memorial might be such a candidate—

Mr. Dalyell

This summer.

Mr. Brooke

The Bill does not become an Act until later this year. The use of millennium funds may fall foul of the principle of additionality, which is important to Opposition and Conservative Members alike.

Mr. Robert Banks

I appreciate that there are difficulties in deciding what should mark the millennium, but will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that our music industry, and the popular music industry in particular, has some of the greatest talent in the world? Does he agree that the establishment of a great music palace, within whose walls the popular music of previous decades and of the present could be played, would be a fitting and exciting way in which to mark the millennium?

Mr. Brooke

I have no doubt that a series of imaginative proposals will be put to the Millennium Commission when it is established. My hon. Friend's idea seems a good candidate, but applications will be treated on their merits by the commission.

Mr. Pendry

Does the Secretary of State know why questions such as that raised by the hon. Member for Ealing, North (Mr. Greenway) are being posed now? Could it be because of the secrecy that has been a hallmark of his Department's approach to certain aspects of the National Lottery etc. Bill? Is he aware that the GAH report, which his Department commissioned but refused to publish, has now been published—conveniently, after the Bill has received its Third Reading and at the exorbitant cost of £695 a copy? Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that it would be a scandal if GAH made a financial killing on the back of public money, especially given that hon. Members were denied access to the contents of that report during the passage of the Bill?

Mr. Brooke

I take mild exception to the hon. Gentleman's observation about the Government's secrecy in the context of the millennium fund. We have sought to be open in every answer that we have given. The report published by GAH earlier today was not commissioned by the Government and has not yet been seen by my Department.

Mr. Cormack

May I ask my right hon. Friend to be a little less modest about who will be in power at the time of the millennium and a little less cautious in his replies about the Albert memorial? Can he not put in a good word, as it is a total scandal that that great memorial is rotting away under scaffolding?

Mr. Brooke

I am certain that, with the continuing and robust support of my hon. Friend, my party will be in power at the time of the millennium. I hope that my hon. Friend will ensure that his support is robustly given during the seven years from now. As regards the Albert memorial, I can only repeat what I said and draw my hon. Friend's attention to the principle of additionality, which is of some importance in the overall lottery equation.