§ 2.50 p.m.
§ Lord Peyton of Yeovil asked Her Majesty's Government:
§ Whether they can give any further information on the Millennium Dome, its progress, its contents and their cost.
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyMy Lords, progress on the Millennium Dome is on time and within budget and details of the project will continue to be released as it develops. The New Millennium Experience Company is continuing to make good progress on sponsorship, with £87 million already committed, putting the company on course to achieve its sponsorship target. On 1st June, the New Millennium Experience Company and Marks and Spencer announced "The Children's Promise" initiative—a scheme to encourage people to donate their last hour's pay of this millennium to enhance the opportunities of the nation's children in the next—as part of Marks and Spencer's £12 million founding partner sponsorship support. That was in addition to the founding partner and official sponsors announced on 24th February.
§ Lord Peyton of YeovilMy Lords, I give the Minister a rather half-hearted and token "thank you" for that Answer. Does he not think it a little odd that so little is known about the contents of this really rather magnificent building, which is now nearing completion both on time and within budget? Indeed, it is splendid. We have been told that the sexless giant which was surveying its own child has been removed and replaced by a golden lady. However, apart from that, we know nothing. Is it not about time that those concerned with this huge building were informed as to what its contents will be?
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyMy Lords, I am sorry if the noble Lord thought that I was rather half-hearted—
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyMy Lords, I now realise that he was half-hearted in his thanks. That is even worse. On reflection, I believe that I was too modest in my response. In fact, the construction work is two weeks ahead of schedule. As the noble Lord knows, seven out of the 13 zones in the Millennium Dome were presented to the public at the end of February and work 689 is proceeding on them as well as on all the others. We still have 18 months to go. Would not the noble Lord like a few surprises at the end?
§ Lord BeloffMy Lords, does the Minister agree that it would be very appropriate for the dome to be left completely empty? It could then act a symbol of New Labour.
The Viscount of FalklandMy Lords, can the Minister help the House a little as regards the cost involved? Is there any distinction or overlap between the funding which has been well publicised for construction and allied purposes and the amounts of money which he has enumerated; namely, those moneys which have been provided by generous sponsors? Are those two sums of money quite distinct and separate, or will some of the sponsorship money be used for construction purposes? Perhaps the Minister can give us some guidance on the matter.
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyMy Lords, clearly the sponsors have a right to require that some part of their money should be used for specific purposes; indeed, they have done so. However, the funding of the project as a whole, which includes large amounts of lottery money, will be used for all purposes such as construction, filling, access and for other aspects of the Millennium Dome. It is a single budget.
§ Lord Montague of OxfordMy Lords, perhaps my noble friend the Minister can clarify one aspect of his original Answer, which relates to the raising of £100 million for the children's programme. My noble friend said that people are being asked to contribute their last hour's salary of the millennium to the fund. However, does he intend to commit his last hour's salary to that end? I shall of course commit mine, but will my noble friend support the rest of the House doing the same?
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyMy Lords, on the dangerous assumption that I still have a salary at that date, I will. As I also have a pension, I will undertake, without any qualification, to contribute the last hour of earning from my pension.
Lord RentonMy Lords, bearing in mind that the millennium marks 2000 years of Christianity, can the Minister say in what way the contents of the dome will record that fact?
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyYes, my Lords. As I have said on numerous occasions in this House, the spiritual aspect of the dome's contents are being worked out in close collaboration with the Lambeth Group, which is sponsored by the Church of England but which includes all Christian and other faiths. The group is 690 taking a leading role in deciding that part of the dome's contents which fall within what we call, "the spirit zone".
§ Lord SkidelskyMy Lords, is the Minister in a position to say whether any changes have been made to the planned contents of the dome since we last debated the matter two months ago? In particular, can I urge the Minister to try to find a space in its 20 acres to depict some defining moments in our far from inglorious national history?
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyMy Lords, changes are taking place all the time as design concepts are developed and approach completion. The noble Lord's suggestion about our,
far from inglorious national history",can and certainly will be taken into account. There are those who are urging us in the spirit of contrition, which is so popular these days, to make amends for some of the less glorious parts of our history. However, I should not pass a personal comment on that suggestion.
§ Earl RussellMy Lords, is the Minister aware of the message contained in the latest Wonder Bra advertisement, which says:
Some domes enjoy public support"?
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyMy Lords, my principle is to allow noble Lords who use Question Time to make jokes to have them unimpeded by interventions from me.
§ Lord Cocks of HartcliffeMy Lords, in order to encourage and set an even better example, will my noble friend the Minister consider asking his colleagues to announce that they are donating rather more than an hour's pay towards this project?
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyMy Lords, I shall follow with interest any initiative that my noble friend takes in that direction.
§ Lord Peyton of YeovilMy Lords, can the Minister assure the House that those who will be responsible for the contents of the Millennium Dome actually know how much money will be available to them?
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyYes, my Lords; without doubt. I can certainly give that assurance. Those who are carrying out the design and preparation work are very well aware of the budgets which have been set for them by the New Millennium Experience Company.
§ Baroness RawlingsMy Lords, does the Minister agree that support given by the Deputy Prime Minister for a fun-fair in the grounds of Battersea Power Station shows that either the Government are surreptitiously looking for a backup to their preparations for the year 2000 celebrations, or that they are hopelessly divided over them?
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyMy Lords, as the noble Baroness well knows, neither is the case. Only a 691 minority of the millennium funding goes on the dome. The vast majority of lottery money will be spent on celebrations, buildings and activities in all parts of the country, including Battersea. Indeed, why not?