HL Deb 18 December 1995 vol 567 cc1403-5

2.51 p.m.

Viscount Waverley asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the United Kingdom's future requirement for permanent exhibition space will be taken into account by the Millennium Commission when considering a site for the Millennium Exhibition.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of National Heritage (Lord Inglewood)

My Lords, I understand that the long-term benefits generated by the Millennium Exhibition will be considered by the commission in its assessment of applications for grant towards the costs of the exhibition. If these benefits include the provision of permanent exhibition space, the Millennium Commission will take that into account.

Viscount Waverley

My Lords, I thank the Minister for that reply. Does he agree that additional exhibition space would greatly enhance our exporting prospects; and that by having no facility in the UK of 200,000 square metres a real advantage is handed to France and Germany?

Lord Inglewood

My Lords, there are those who feel that the country's prospects would be enhanced by having additional exhibition space. However, views vary as to where that space should be or whether it should be free-standing or built in conjunction with conference centre and hotel accommodation.

Lord Elton

My Lords, I declare a directorship of an Andry Montgomery company which has interests in using exhibition space but not in owning it. Does my noble friend realise that there are in Europe no fewer than eight exhibition centres bigger than the NEC at Birmingham; that the one at Hanover, which is the biggest, could accommodate the whole of the NEC twice over and still have room comfortably to accommodate Olympia, Earls Court and the Scottish Exhibition Centre; and that that represents a considerable competition handicap for UK plc? Does he agree that what is now urgently needed is comparable provision in this capital city of London which would attract immense benefit to it?

Lord Inglewood

My Lords, any such project which would be of benefit to London and the country is obviously to be greatly welcomed. But inherent in my noble friend's question are some of the problems which would face anyone bringing forward such a project. The devil lies in the detail with such ideas.

Lord Donoghue

My Lords, I trust that the main consideration in choosing the site would be access for the whole nation. However, while on the question of the lottery, have the Government—

Lord Hailsham of Saint Marylebone

My Lords, we are not on the lottery.

Lord Donoghue

My Lords, the millennium is linked directly to the lottery. If noble Lords were to look up the legislation they would find that to be so. Have the Government any Statement to make on any decision they may have made on the position of the regulator of the National Lottery? Whether they have or not—whoever holds that position—will the Minister assure the House that they will firmly inform the regulator that the main purposes of the lottery were to benefit prize winners and good causes and not the fat cats of Camelot?

Lord Hailsham of Saint Marylebone

My Lords, that is wholly out of order.

Lord Inglewood

My Lords, the noble Lord's question, if not entirely out of order, is very close to being so. My department has received a preliminary report from Mr. Davis. Officials have discussed it with him this morning. My right honourable friend the Secretary of State needs carefully to consider the issues raised. She does not intend to take precipitate action. It would be inappropriate and unfair to say more on the matter today. She will report to the House in due course.

Lord Ezra

My Lords, is it intended to have just one Millennium Exhibition Centre, or could there be more than one? Will the Minister consider that it might be desirable, quite apart from establishing a new exhibition centre, to build on a successful on-going centre such as Birmingham which was mentioned a moment ago? I understand that it has space for expansion. In view of the facilities that it has, it would be a good idea for that to be extended as well as developing some new centre.

Lord Inglewood

My Lords, decisions about the Millennium Exhibition are for the Millennium Commission. It is intended that there will be a wider millennium festival which will be focused on the exhibition itself.

Lord Beloff

My Lords, in relation to the question asked by my noble friend Lord Elton, does my noble friend agree that those who wish to export British goods would do far better to exhibit at Hanover or other continental centres rather than to ask prospective buyers to travel to Birmingham or elsewhere in the UK?

Lord Inglewood

My Lords, my noble friend makes a good point because it depends upon who attends the exhibitions, whether they be in Birmingham, Hanover or on the other side of the Atlantic.

Lord Elton

My Lords, would my noble friend find it reasonable to remind my noble friend Lord Beloff that people who attend exhibitions of the scale about which we are talking number in their tens of thousands and come from all over the world particularly to see British goods?

Lord Inglewood

My Lords, I am grateful to be able to say to my noble friend that I am delighted to be able to reply to him and to my noble friend that my noble friend is absolutely right.