§ Mr. HargreavesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the outcome of the triennial review of the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre.
§ Sir George YoungThe triennial review of the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre executive agency has now been completed, and a summary of the evaluation report has been placed in the Library.
In 1992–93, the centre was voted "Best UK Conference Centre" by members of the industry for the sixth year in succession, and was awarded one of the first chartermarks. However, there is still room for improvement in meeting the agency's key objectives of securing a progressive reduction in its net costs to the Exchequer and of encouraging optimum occupancy levels. The target operating deficit in 1993–94 is £900,000, but when rent for occupation of the building is added the deficit is some £7 million. The target occupancy level for 1993–94 is 49 per cent. over 365 days for the main letting areas.
While I have decided that there should be no immediate change to the centre's status as a "next steps" agency, I have asked the agency to continue the search for further efficiencies and improvements in its financial and operational performance. In addition, I propose to test the value for money of the present arrangements by including a contract for management of the centre in my Department's market-testing programme for 1994–95. I intend that any resulting contract should come into effect from April 1996.