HL Deb 26 January 2004 vol 656 cc12-3WA
Lord Strathclyde

asked Her Majesty's Government:

At what stage, before the opening of the Millennium Dome, a business plan was prepared for the Minister responsible, assessing the total costs of fitting out and managing the building. [HL799]

Lord McIntosh of Haringey

Responsibility for the Dome project rested with the board of Millennium Central Limited, later the New Millennium Experience Company Limited. The earliest business plan based on the Dome was presented to the Millennium Commission by the company in December 1996. In February 1997, the Government took Millennium Central Limited into public ownership with a government Minister as sole shareholder. The business plan was revised on a number of occasions before the opening of the Dome and the shareholder was informed throughout about projections of cost.