§ 28. Sir Geoffrey Johnson Smith (Wealden)If he will make a statement on the role of Camelot as the distributor of tickets for the millennium experience. [42015]
§ The Minister without Portfolio (Mr. Peter Mandelson)The New Millennium Experience Company announced on 24 February that it had reached agreement in principle with Camelot for it to be official distributor of tickets for the millennium experience at Greenwich. This will mean that there is a ticket outlet within three miles of 95 per cent. of the population of the United Kingdom.
§ Sir Geoffrey Johnson SmithIs the hon. Gentleman aware that Camelot has already contributed to the dome? Can he confirm that no additional pressure was put on Camelot to spend more money on the distribution of tickets or to pay for the commissions of those people who retail at the point of sale?
§ Mr. MandelsonAbsolutely no pressure has been placed on Camelot or on any of the other private sector organisations that are increasingly keen to take part in this unique national event, no doubt partly for perfectly laudable commercial reasons, but, more importantly, because they want to contribute to the nation's millennium celebration. It is particularly welcome that Camelot should be playing the role that it is, as ticket purchases to allow people to come to the dome for the millennium experience should be as simple, straightforward and accessible as possible—it should be as easy to get tickets as it is to play the lottery. I believe that Camelot's involvement will greatly help us in achieving that.
§ Ms Diane Abbott (Hackney, North and Stoke Newington)The House is aware that my hon. Friend does not believe that there will be a shortfall in sponsorship moneys. However, if there is a shortfall and the contingency money is swallowed up in cost overruns, for which such capital projects are notorious, where will the additional money come from—from the taxpayer or from lottery funds?
§ Mr. MandelsonI do not envisage that the scenario that my hon. Friend describes will arise, as I do not 16 believe that there will be cost overruns. I assure her, however, that in no circumstances will any deficit be met from taxpayers' money.
§ Mr. Francis Maude (Horsham)Leaving aside the extraordinary reversal in recent months in the Government's view of Camelot, does the hon. Gentleman agree that Camelot sponsorship of the dome is nowhere near sufficient to fill the huge gap that still exists? Will he confirm reports that the cost of the contents of the dome have been spiralling out of control and that, given the huge gap in sponsorship, his grandiose plans, which were revealed with such drama in February, are having to be radically scaled down as, in effect, the chief executive of the dome recently admitted? Has not the hon. Gentleman's stewardship of this important project been so catastrophic that a reshuffle is the only way in which he can hope to save face and to be taken out of a disaster area of his own making?
§ Mr. MandelsonNo. I shall be at the opening night on 31 December 1999 whatever my capacity. It is a great shame that, as the right hon. Gentleman bids farewell, he should be characteristically churlish in his contribution. I hope that he does not think that I am being equally churlish if I say that I hope that he makes as little impact in undermining the Government's economic policies as he has in his attempts to torpedo the dome in the past year.