§ Mr. Nigel JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will make a statement on the projects under consideration by his Department to commemorate the millennium. [5024]
§ Mr. Chris SmithThe Millennium Commission, which I chair, funds projects designed to mark the year 2000 and the beginning of the third millennium. Already over £1 billion of lottery money has been committed to over 100 projects on over 2000 sites across the country. By 31 December 2000, the Commission expects to have allocated £1.7 billion for its programme across the country.
This programme has three components:
The Capital Projects: £994 million has so far been allocated, on twelve landmark projects in the nine English regions and in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, as well as on smaller, more local projects. Landmark projects include setting up the University for the Highlands and Islands; the Eden project in Cornwall which will establish one of the world's largest glass houses for extraordinary plants; the International Centre for Life in Newcastle, introducing people to the science of genetics; the Lowry Centre at Salford's waterfront which will feature a centre for Virtual Reality; and the Millennium Point in Birmingham, which will be a centre for scientific and educational excellence.605WThe Millennium Awards: Over £200 million will be set aside to help tens of thousands of talented people fulfil personal goals which have a wider community benefit. These will include projects managed by the Prince's Trust, The Royal Society, Mind and CSV Scotland.The Millennium Exhibition: this will be a place of excitement and of education, opening up a "window on the future", and it will be based at Greenwich. The Commission will provide up to £400 million net, with a further £50 million of cashflow support. The Exhibition site on the regenerated Greenwich peninsula will also become the hub of a technological and educational network providing a legacy for the whole nation.There is a range of other activity being planned for the Millennium across the nation. My Department is responsible for a Millennium Co-ordinating Group, established as a forum for a wide variety of bodies with a part to play in events to mark the Millennium. I am attending the next meeting of this Group in the coming month, and will use that opportunity to develop the themes on which we want to focus. Out of this work will come proposals for national occasions, as well as arrangements for tracking and publicising the range of other events which will be organised by people around the country.
My Department is also recommending the calling of a one-off additional Bank Holiday to mark the Millennium, and will consult with relevant interest groups about a suitable date, which we hope will be 31 December 1999. Officials are also discussing with the Churches and representatives of other faiths the holding of a number of national services during the first weekend of the year 2000.
Today we are publishing new information about how the Exhibition will take shape. I am writing to all right hon. and hon. Members about this, with information about other Millennium projects, and have placed copies in the House Libraries.