§ Mr. DhandaTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what public money has been used to support the Millennium Dome since its closure. [133542]
§ Keith HillThe New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) was responsible for maintaining the Dome, and decommissioning its contents, from its closure on 31 December 2000 to end of June 2001. During this period, NMEC incurred expenditure of £8.2 million funded by the Lottery, although partially offset by net income of £3.9 million from the sale of assets following closure.
English Partnerships (EP) took over responsibility in July 2001, since when it has incurred expenditure of £6.3 million on maintaining the Dome, up to the end of August 2003. EP has also incurred expenditure of £6.7 million on decommissioning the Dome's contents and site preparation for its long-term use, and £7.4 million in connection with the current sale process, from February 2001 to the end of August 2003. £6.7 million was spent by EP on the earlier competition to find a long-term use for the Dome, which began in March 1999 and ended in February 2001. EP has received income, net of VAT, of £0.9 million for events held at the Dome since it became available for such use at the end of 2001, thereby reducing the amount of public money used to support the Dome. The remaining EP expenditure, and their future costs, will be recovered from eventual sale proceeds.