§ 7. Mr. Simon Thomas (Ceredigion)What proposals he has received from train and bus operating companies in Wales for special ticket and travel arrangements for the millennium dome. [110602]
§ The Minister for Tourism, Film and Broadcasting (Janet Anderson)I welcome the hon. Gentleman to his first Culture, Media and Sport Question Time. We look forward to debating with him in the future.
The New Millennium Experience Company has been working closely with key travel trade operators to ensure that good-value travel packages—either day trips, or including accommodation—are available for the people of Wales.
§ Mr. ThomasI thank the Minister for that reply. However, there is little evidence that people in Wales are availing themselves of the millennium dome. Indeed, the Minister's Department was unable to give me any figures relating to ticket sales in Wales. Perhaps that has something to do with the fact that the loans recently made available for the dome would have met the deficit in NHS spending in Wales. Will the Minister assure the House that, in future, ticket sales alone will determine the dome's success or failure, and that more effort will be made to allow people in Wales to go to the dome without being penalised by distance?
§ Janet AndersonI can say only that, during half-term week, no fewer than 178,000 people visited the dome. As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State mentioned earlier, attendance at the dome so far has totalled 872,367 people. Those figures speak for themselves, but I understand that the hon. Gentleman's constituency has its day at the dome tomorrow—[Interruption.] If the hon. Gentleman had taken more interest in the dome's activities, he might have known that. I urge him to get down to the dome tomorrow and join his constituents.
§ Mr. Huw Edwards (Monmouth)I assure my hon. Friend the Minister that the people of Monmouthshire will be delighted to participate in cheap package trips to see the wonderful entertainment at the dome. Last Thursday was Monmouthshire day there, and I watched a wonderful performance by young people associated with Gwent theatre from my constituency and the constituencies of my hon. Friends the Members for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn) and for Newport, East (Mr. Howarth). My only regret about that day was that no bus load of people from the Arts Council of Wales came to see the wonderful work of Gwent theatre. The council recently decided to end the theatre's franchise for next year. That decision has now been overturned, thanks to the wonderful campaign on Gwent theatre's behalf.
§ Janet AndersonMy hon. Friend is right, and he gives a much more accurate and knowledgeable account of the interest of the people of Wales in the dome. If I may, I shall quote from the Daily Post report published after Gwynedd had its day in the dome in 18 February. It stated:
The young people of Gwynedd descended on the Millennium Dome yesterday …and they admitted they were "gobsmacked" by the building. John Meadows, of Barmouth, said last night, "We came 11 down here with the criticism it has had in recent weeks in mind, but it is absolutely fantastic. I'm gobsmacked, it absolutely blew me away.