§ Lord Burlisonasked Her Majesty's Government:
What plans they have for the Millennium Dome after the year 2000. [HL1395]
The Minister of State, Cabinet Office (Lord Falconer of Thoroton): The Government have today launched a competition to invite bids for alternative uses of the Dome on its present site after the Millennium Experience finishes at the end of December 2000. I have placed copies of the brochure for stage one of the process in the Libraries of the House. Decisions will be taken by the Government following appraisal of detailed bids submitted at later stages by the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) and English Partnerships and consultation with the Millennium Commission.
The Government's objective is to ensure a sustainable alternative use of the Dome which reflects its cultural significance and contributes fully to regeneration both of the Greenwich Peninsula as a whole and more widely. The Government will wish to achieve good value for money from the disposal of the Dome and related land, and will have regard to whether the proposal would generate receipts which at least match those which could have been achieved if the site were clear and disposed of for ordinary commercial development. The Government will also pay close attention to the regeneration and cultural outputs likely to be delivered by any proposed use, and its compatibility with proposals for developing the rest of the peninsula and the wider Thames Gateway area.