HC Deb 09 November 1998 vol 319 cc13-6
27. Mr. Crispin Blunt (Reigate)

If he will make a statement on the progress of the New Millennium Experience Company in raising sponsorship for the millennium experience. [57270]

31. Mr. Michael Fabricant (Lichfield)

What is the total amount of moneys currently identified for sponsorship of zones within the Millennium dome. [57274]

32. Mr. Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby)

How much of the funding for the millennium experience from sponsors is (a) committed, (b) promised and (c) made in kind. [57275]

33. Mr. Andrew Robathan (Blaby)

If he will list the sponsors currently involved in the Millennium dome. [57276]

The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (Mr. Peter Mandelson)

The New Millennium Experience Company is to be congratulated on the significant progress it has made in raising sponsorship for the millennium experience. More than £100 million has been committed by Tesco, Manpower, BT, BSkyB, Marks and Spencer, British Airways, the Corporation of London, BAA, Camelot, GEC, British Aerospace and Thames Water. A further £60 million from 10 major companies is subject to detailed negotiation. It is not possible, at this stage, to divide sponsorship support into specific categories, but the distinction will be made in the company's annual report and accounts, which will be published and laid in the Libraries of both Houses.

Mr. Blunt

In raising sponsorship for the millennium experience, does the right hon. Gentleman think that his real and perceived power over these companies as Secretary of State for Trade and Industry helps or hinders?

Mr. Mandelson

My role in relation to the dome is as shareholder, not as head of the sponsorship team.

Although I receive regular reports from the board of the New Millennium Experience Company on its significant progress in raising sponsorship, I have never been, and do not intend to be, involved in procuring or negotiating sponsorship deals, so no conflict arises.

Mr. Fabricant

Of the £100 million committed, what percentage is subject to an irrevocable, signed contract?

Mr. Mandelson

The companies have committed in the way I have described, and I am pleased that they have done so. No one has ever denied that raising £150 million of private sponsorship is a considerable challenge: of course it is. Then again, no one has ever taken the decision to stage such a unique national event. The sums and the event are without precedent. Our best and most forward-looking companies are picking up the challenge because they see their commercial interest coinciding with the national interest. It would be nice if, like those companies, Conservative Members identified with the national interest.

Mr. Fabricant

On a point of order, Madam Speaker. [Interruption.]

Madam Speaker

Order. The hon. Gentleman finds that answer unsatisfactory and he wants to raise the matter on the Adjournment.

Mr. Fabricant

Yes, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker

Good, I have got the point, thank you.

Mr. Mitchell

I am delighted to hear my right hon. Friend exuding confidence about the prospects for raising the money, but, if we are still £60 million short and money is trickling in as slowly as press reports suggest, will not that create the real danger that, instead of being the celebration of British history, achievements and prospects that it should be, the millennium experience will be a mammoth piece of commercial hucksterism in which companies from McDonald's to Tesco are allowed to parade their products on the back of £580 million of public money?

Mr. Mandelson

I do not think that my hon. Friend was listening to my reply. I said that a further £60 million from 10 major companies is subject to detailed negotiation. If my arithmetic is correct, that takes us over the target that we have already set. We are getting a great deal for our sponsorship. For example, the children's promise scheme, which is a joint campaign between the New Millennium Experience Company and Marks and Spencer, brings together seven children's charities. It will encourage everyone to donate their final hour's earnings of this millennium to the children of the next. That is something that the entire House can and should support.

I am grateful to my noble Friend Lord Montague of Oxford, whose magnificent salesmanship in the other place has already delivered 86 pledge cards. I will ensure that pledge cards are put in the Whips' Offices of all the parties, including the Conservative party, so that Conservative Members can sign up to children's promise and give their last hour's earnings in this millennium for the good cause of children in the next. We will see how much we get from them.

Mr. Robathan

I look forward to receiving my card—

The Minister for Sport (Mr. Tony Banks)

The hon. Gentleman will be getting his cards very shortly.

Mr. Robathan

Not as soon as the Minister will get a yellow card.

The Secretary of State failed to respond to the question asked by the hon. Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell)—£60 million may be the subject of detailed negotiation, but that is not quite the same as having £60 million pledged. What contingency plans does the right hon. Gentleman have in place should the money not be forthcoming? Will he state categorically that he will not dip into the taxpayers' pocket if it is not forthcoming?

Mr. Mandelson

I will happily give that commitment, because the sums that we need have already been identified—they are coming. I understand that Conservative Members are desperately disappointed with the good news that I am able to share with the House today—they will not be happy until the private sponsorship finally fails to materialise, the doors fail to open and the public fail to turn up. Conservative Members will be very disappointed and there will be a lot of long Tory faces at the beginning of 2000, because the millennium dome and experience will be a tremendous success. They will be sorry that they have lacked the enthusiasm and patriotism to support them throughout.

Mr. Norman Baker (Lewes)

Can I put it to the Minister, gently, that there is at least a perception of a conflict of interest between his roles as Minister responsible for the millennium dome and Secretary of State for Trade and Industry? For example, he is involved in regulating Manchester United's possible takeover by BSkyB while sponsorship from BSkyB is coming in for the millennium dome. Would it not be better—having his best interests at heart—if responsibility for the millennium dome were transferred, perhaps to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport?

Mr. Mandelson

I do not know where the hon. Gentleman has been, but the bid by BSkyB for Manchester United—let us get it the right way round—has been referred by me to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission. My responsibilities for competition policy as Secretary of State for Trade and Industry require me to act fairly and impartially, and to be seen to do so. In carrying out these functions, I can categorically assure the House that I am in no way influenced by actual or potential offers being made by companies in support of the dome.

Mr. Richard Spring (West Suffolk)

Setting aside any possible conflicts of interest, does not the right hon. Gentleman understand the damage to the dome that has been done by his ridiculous announcements, including those on the sport of surfball, the androgynous figure, the use of a nappy, Siamese twins and so on? Given his failure to secure the total funding sum thus far, in retrospect was he not unwise to liken himself to St. John the Baptist—who, far from attending champagne parties, lived on locusts and wild honey; whose message was never spin doctored, but one of repentance; and whose head, duly severed, ultimately landed up on a plate?

Mr. Mandelson

I do not know how long it took to write and rehearse that question before it was delivered. These are very tired remarks from Opposition Members; we hear constant cavilling, nit-picking and thread-pulling from the usual carping quarters. Opposition Members are absolutely desperate for the project to go wrong, are they not? They will be very disappointed.

28. Mr. Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby)

What discussions he has had with the United Kingdom's small breweries about promoting local beers during the period of the millennium experience. [57271]

Mr. Mandelson

The New Millennium Experience Company announced in April that it wanted to serve visitors to the dome with the United Kingdom's best traditionally brewed and popular beers. The company is in discussion with a number of local and regional brewers.

Mr. Quinn

Will my right hon. Friend confirm that Black Dog Brewery Ltd. in Whitby will be one of the breweries approached? Without doubt, such a regional flavour will spread the millennium experience around the country. May I also make a plea for Whitby kippers, which would go particularly well with the beer?

Mr. Mandelson

I am sure that the very appropriately named Black Dog beer will be among those that are very hotly considered by the New Millennium Experience Company. As for Whitby's kippers and all the other magnificent products and services, moving the town into the dome might not be a bad idea. The town will certainly have an opportunity to tell its story in the dome under a project called "Our Town's Story", which will enable people from all over the country to tell their story for the benefit and enjoyment of millions of our fellow citizens.