Millennium Dome (Hansard, 29 October 1998)

§ Lord McIntosh of Haringey
My Lords, the new Millennium Experience Company's annual report and financial statements for 1997–98 were published on 30th July and copies placed in the Libraries of both Houses. The company's corporate plan for the period 1997–98 to 2000–01 was published in August and copies of that are available in the Libraries. I understand that the Millennium Commission has today laid copies of its annual report in the Libraries of both Houses.
Good progress is being made on all aspects of the transport arrangements for the dome. In particular, the Government welcome London Transport's recent appointment of Bechtel to manage the completion and commissioning stages of the Jubilee Line extension, and its confirmation that it will open in good time for the millennium experience.
I understand that the London Borough of Greenwich has recently approved the principle of the New Millennium Experience Company park-and-ride strategy. Overall, I am happy to report that the millennium experience, both at the dome and around the country through the associated national programme, is developing extremely well. The installation of the content of the dome has already begun on time.

§ Lord Peyton of Yeovil
My Lords, does it not strike the noble Lord as being rather odd that in this age of spin doctoring, carefully contrived messages and masses of paper, there is still very little understanding throughout the country as to what will emerge in the dome at the end of the day? For example, is there to be any sign or token of the anniversary which it commemorates; or alternatively, will there be in any way a stage to show British skills? So far, little is known on those subjects?

§ Lord McIntosh of Haringey
My Lords, I am not sure from the noble Lord's question whether he deplores spin doctoring or asks for more of it. It has always been planned that the details of the content of the dome will be made public over a period of time. We do not want to have everything known more than a year in advance.
As regards the anniversary which the dome celebrates, as the noble Lord knows, one of the zones is the spirit zone. The content of that is being developed 2077 in conjunction with the Lambeth Group which is chaired by the personal chaplain of the Archbishop of Canterbury.

§ Baroness Masham of Ilton
My Lords, what plans are being made for parking and other facilities for severely disabled people within the dome?

§ Lord McIntosh of Haringey
My Lords, there will be parking facilities for severely disabled people, and only severely disabled people, in the dome area.

§ Lord Elton
My Lords, is the Minister aware that a dome has been marking the birth which this dome celebrates since the Great Fire of London in the building of St. Paul's? It would be more fitting if, instead of looking like a giant mushroom, the new dome, like the old dome, had a cross on top of it.

§ Lord McIntosh of Haringey
My Lords, the noble Lord is entitled to his aesthetic and architectural judgments. Many other people who have seen the dome—which, strictly speaking in architectural terms, is not a dome—are very excited about it.

Lord Renton
My Lords, will the noble Lord say more about the opportunity being given to the Christian Churches within the spiritual content of the dome?

§ Lord McIntosh of Haringey
My Lords, I thought I had answered that question. The spirit zone within the dome is being developed in consultation with the Lambeth Group which is chaired by the personal chaplain of the Archbishop of Canterbury and includes representatives of all faiths in this country. In addition, the noble Lord may be aware of the announcement made earlier this month about the candle ceremony which is planned for the beginning of the new millennium. It is to be observed all round the country and at the dome.

§ Lord Campbell of Alloway
My Lords, will the noble Lord give the House an assurance that the masses, other than the disabled, will be able to get to the dome?

§ Lord McIntosh of Haringey
My Lords, yes, I can give that assurance. We have confirmation that the work on the Jubilee Line extension, which is planned to take 60 per cent. of visitors to the dome, will be completed in good time for the millennium. As I said, the park-and-ride facilities which are necessary are going ahead as planned.

§ Baroness Ludford
My Lords, is it not the case that even if the Jubilee Line is completed—and we all hope that it is—it is totally distorting the investment priorities of London Transport and therefore other tube lines are being totally neglected? On the Northern Line and other lines, people are travelling in appalling conditions.

§ Lord McIntosh of Haringey
My Lords, as a user of the Northern Line, I agree that it leaves much to be desired. Of course, the Jubilee Line extension was planned a long time before the suggestion of the 2078 Greenwich site for the dome. It is important for the economic development of the whole of eastern London and is justified on those grounds alone.

§ Lord Skidelsky
My Lords, in view of pending competition inquiries involving Sky Television, British Airways and the Ford Motor Company, all large donors to the Millennium Dome, does the Minister not agree with me that there is a potentially serious conflict of interest between the role of Mr. Peter Mandelson as Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and his role as chief fund raiser for the dome? Does the Minister not agree further that the prospects for the dome would be greatly enhanced if it were declared a Mandelson-free zone?

§ Lord McIntosh of Haringey
My Lords, I have indicated already in answering questions on the dome that I do not propose to intervene in other noble Lords making jokes on the subject. However, the noble Lord made two serious points which I shall answer. First, the shareholder, Peter Mandelson, is not involved in the detailed negotiations or indeed in the negotiations in principle on sponsorship within the dome. That is the responsibility of the New Millennium Experience Company. Secondly, the noble Lord asked about possible conflicts of interest. I assure the noble Lord that on each occasion that matters concerning sponsors of the dome have arisen in his department, the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has taken proper advice. So far he has been advised that there is no conflict of interest, but if he were advised that there were a conflict of interest, he would certainly not take part in anything which would give rise to such a conflict.

§ Lord Peyton of Yeovil
My Lords—

§ The Lord Privy Seal (Baroness Jay of Paddington)
My Lords, I hesitate to interrupt the noble Lord but I should draw his attention to the fact that we are beyond the half-way mark for Questions.