Millennium Experience (Hansard, 29 June 1998)

§ 29. Mr. John M. Taylor (Solihull)
How much money from the private sector has been raised so far for the millennium experience at Greenwich. [46342]

§ The Minister without Portfolio (Mr. Peter Mandelson)
Over £100 million of private sector sponsorship has been identified so far. The New Millennium Experience Company is in active discussion with a number of companies, and is on course to achieve the target of £150 million by the end of the year.

§ Mr. Taylor
Can it be true that the Minister is spending £500,000 trying to find out what makes us British? Will he accept it from me that one of our finest manifestations is the English language, which he is murdering by calling the British zone "UK at Now"?

§ Mr. Mandelson
I am not quite sure what that question has to do with private sector sponsorship of the millennium dome. I should have thought that the hon. Gentleman—before moving on to a different matter, with which I shall deal in a moment—might have congratulated the company on its success in identifying that amount of money to date. One year ago, not one penny of private sector sponsorship had been identified by the previous Administration. I have read, with interest, the same articles as the hon. Gentleman on the national identity zone. However, I have to say that, just last Friday, as I visited the design company and team working on the zone, I did not recognise much in the reports that was true. As for the specific issue of the opinion poll—which will not be costing £500,000—I should prefer to see in the dome what the British people themselves regard and express as their national identity. I am rather more interested in the views of the British people than I am in those of any team of designers, the millennium organisers or the Minister without Portfolio.

§ Mr. Ivor Caplin (Hove)
Has my hon. Friend seen the report by the English tourist board, which suggests that the millennium experience and the dome will be a huge boost for jobs in the south-east, which will have a direct impact on my constituency and the outlying areas of Sussex and Kent?

§ Mr. Mandelson
My hon. Friend is absolutely right. The report by the English tourist board is extremely encouraging and confirms one reason—employment creation and its benefit to the British economy—of the many for going ahead with the millennium project in the first place. In addition, the British Tourist Authority has said that, on a conservative estimate, the experience will generate £300 million to £500 million of overseas revenue, and the true amount could be double that—£1 billion could be the economic halo effect for Britain of our holding this millennium experience.

§ Mr. Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey)
I am not entirely sure that the hon. Gentleman has finally crossed his t's 14 and dotted his i's in terms of the sponsorship that he claims but, be that as it may, I want to be helpful about the dome—[HON. MEMBERS: "No!"] Oh yes, I want to be helpful. Is not the single biggest impediment the fact that, in the hands of the Minister without Portfolio, the project is increasingly being seen as a party political bandwagon, albeit one that has already lost a couple of wheels? Would not the most helpful thing be for the Minister now to give way to a non-political person of real independence and stature who can get to grips with the project and pull in the remaining sponsorship that is so badly needed?

§ Mr. Mandelson
The hon. Gentleman says that he wants to be a little more supportive. He may not have noticed that the question that he has just asked is exactly the question asked by his predecessor, not only at the previous session of oral questions, but at the one before, so the hon. Gentleman seems to be stuck in a bit of a rut. I am surprised because the hon. Gentleman was a member of the Government and of the National Heritage Department team that originally developed the proposals for the millennium experience in the first place. I hope that, on that basis, we can look forward to a little more encouragement and support for the excellent work being undertaken.

§ Mr. Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield)
Will my hon. Friend point out to the House that the private sector companies investing in the millennium dome are this country's world-class companies? It is a tribute to them that they see it as an opportunity to sell their wares and the talents and skills of this country. It is difficult these days to ask a question in support of the millennium dome because of the awful attitude of the Opposition; some London Labour Members who do not know what is a good investment in their own backyard; and The Daily Telegraph, which calls us sycophants if we show any support, but does my hon. Friend accept that he has our support and will continue to have it because the project is good for Britain and good for our future?

§ Mr. Mandelson
I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that support. The fact is that no comparable event has raised such a large sum of money so quickly in private sector sponsorship, or so far in advance of the event taking place. That is absolutely unprecedented and very encouraging. As my hon. Friend points out, our best and most forward-looking companies are picking up the challenge because they see their commercial interest coinciding with the national interest. We are on course to meet our ambitious sponsorship target. It is very ambitious indeed, but I am confident that we shall meet it by the end of the year. I look forward to announcements of further substantial sponsors quite soon.