HC Deb 25 June 1997 vol 296 cc527-8W
Mr. Hoyle

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans he has for supporting Millennium events in the regions.[3210]

Mr. Chris Smith

It is the Government's intention to support Millennium events throughout the UK through the Millennium Commission. In announcing his support for the Millennium Exhibition on 19 June the Prime Minister said that the Exhibition must be a truly national event, with links across the whole of the UK.

The addition to the Exhibition in Greenwich the Millennium Commission has to date awarded grants totalling £994 million to 112 capital projects on 2,036 sites across the UK. These range from landmark projects, such as the Lowry Centre in Salford, to small local projects. The Commission is also funding a number of nationwide umbrella projects, such as "Woods on your doorstep" and "21st Century Halls".