HC Deb 22 February 1995 vol 255 cc214-5W
Mr. Chris Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage, pursuant to his answer of 7 February,Official Report, column 161, what considerations underlay his Department's decision to disclose the fee paid to the firm Lowe Bell Communications in respect of its organisation of the programme of events to mark the 50th anniversary of D-Day in its release of 24 January 1994.

Mr. Dorrell

Messrs Lowe Bell Communications were appointed to advise the Government on the D-Day commemorative programme and to assist in the implementation of the programme. Messrs Lowe Bell agreed that publication of the fee paid to them would not raise issues of commercial confidentiality.

Mr. Chris Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage, pursuant to his answer of 7 February,Official Report, column 161, what is the Department's total budget for the organisation of the programme of events to commemorate the end in Europe of the second world war.

Mr. Dorrell

A sum of £4.75 million has been voted in 1995–96 to this Department for work on organising commemorative events. In addition, funds will be required in the current financial year, and parliamentary approval is being sought for the necessary expenditure. The pattern of expenditure between this year and next year is not yet clear.

Mr. Chris Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage, pursuant to his answer of 7 February,Official Report, column 161, how many other firms were involved in tendering for the contract to organise events to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end in Europe of the second world war.

Mr. Dorrell

Fourteen firms in all were invited to submit outline proposals for the Hyde park contract and nine firms did so. Of these, five firms in addition to Messrs Unusual Industries tendered for the contract.

Mr. Chris Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage, pursuant to his answer of 7 February, Official Report, column 161, if the firm Unusual Industries submitted the lowest bid for the contract to organise a programme of events to commemorate the end in Europe of the second world war.

Mr. Dorrell

Yes.

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