Millennium (Hansard, 1 July 1996)

§ 13. Mr. Hanson
To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will make a statement on regional celebrations for the millennium. [33671]

§ Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
Eight out of the nine flagship landmark projects for which funding has been approved are outside London. The Government are putting in place machinery to co-ordinate the many projects and events that are being planned around the UK to celebrate the millennium. My Department will lead this co-ordination. The millennium exhibition, which the Millennium Commission intends to support with up to £200 million, includes plans for a regional programme. The commission also welcomes funding applications for large-scale capital projects around the country.

§ 20. Mr. Gunnell
To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what advice she has given to those selecting millennium projects for lottery funding concerning the regional distribution of their awards. [33678]

§ Mrs. Bottomley
The Millennium Commission wants to ensure a good geographical spread of awards. It expects to fund 12 landmark projects in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and in each of the English regions. The commission will award funds to a number of smaller projects throughout the country.

§ 24. Mr. Tony Banks
To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what representations she has received regarding the national site for the millennium celebration. [33682]

§ 25. Dr. Goodson-Wickes
To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will make a statement on the millennium project at Greenwich. [33683]

§ Mrs. Bottomley
As chairman of Millennium Commission and as Secretary of State for National Heritage, I have received letters from Members of Parliament and the public about the siting of the millennium exhibition. The decision to award the exhibition to Greenwich was made by the millennium commissioners.