HC Deb 17 January 2002 vol 378 cc466-8W
Nick Harvey

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the cost of the millennium dome is, broken down by category of expenditure, from conception to the date for which the most recent figures are available for each financial year; and what future finances have been committed from (a) public finances, (b) lottery funding and (c) other sources. [20190]

£ million
1 April 1997 to 31 March 1998 1 April 1998 to 31 March 1999 1 April 1999 to 31 December 1999 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2000 1 January 2001 to 18 December 2001 Total project
Dome structure and associated Infrastructure 74 128 77 0 -4 275
Dome exhibits and attractions 4 26 149 63 0 242
Dome operating costs 0 0 42 61 -1 102
Commercial communications and Marketing 3 10 16 12 0 41
Set-up costs, staff accommodation IT, legal and corporate services 8 6 29 12 -2 53
National programme 1 9 17 23 0 50
Decommissioning and corporate wind down 0 0 0 6 25 31
Grand total 90 179 330 177 18 794

The cost of the Millennium Experience includes the National Programme of events and activities. Also included is the London Riverside new year's eve celebrations of 31 December 1999. Negative figures shown in the table against 2001 result from rebates and savings on costs provided for in previous years' account. In addition, from 1 July 2001, when the lease of NMEC ended, English Partnerships, the Government's urban regeneration agency, has incurred £1.5 million on care and maintenance related costs, £6.4 million on decommissioning the Dome contents in preparation for a future use and about £2.2 million in relation to the current sale process, up to 31 December 2001. The cost of the previous competition to find a long-term use for the Dome, which began in March 1999 and ended at the beginning of 2001, was £6.7 million. All these costs will be met from within English Partnerships' normal budget, and recovered from eventual sale proceeds.

Mr. Redwood

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much has been spent on fees for advisers to the(a) Government and (b) New Millennium Experience Company for the Dome project. [22693]

Dr. Howells

The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) paid £82,000 to consultants for specific advisory work in connection with the potential sale of the Millennium Dome. In terms of supplying details of all other advice for all aspects of the project, an accurate figure could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

English Partnerships, the Government's regeneration agency, responsible for managing the Dome sale process on behalf of the Government, is expected to incur costs in the order of £2.2 million for the current sale process up to 31 December 2001. This largely relates to consultants' costs for the market testing and other matters associated with the on-going sale process. The cost of the previous competition for the sale of the Dome, which began in March 1999 and ended at the beginning of 2001, was £6.7 million. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport incurred costs of £68,495 for legal advice relating to the sale process during this period.

Dr. Howells

[holding answer 3 December 2001]: The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) has advised that the total cost of the Millennium Experience, broken down by expenditure heading, by its financial year is as follows:

An estimated (still to be finalised) £17,600 is likely to be incurred by DCMS for advice received in relation to the appointment of liquidators to NMEC in December 2001.