§ Yvette CooperTo ask the Minister without Portfolio what level of sponsorship has to date been achieved in respect of the Millennium Experience at Greenwich. [31195]
§ Mr. MandelsonThe New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) is today announcing its first four Founding Partners: BT, Manpower, Sky and Tesco. These four companies are each committing a minimum of £12 million value to the overall Millennium Experience. The Company is also announcing signed confirmation of the commitments of British Airways and BAA. Together, those six companies are making a direct private sector contribution of nearly £59 million.
The New Millennium Experience Company also has commitments coming up for detailed negotiation which would add a further £16 million, taking the overall level of support to £75 million; and the Company is in serious negotiation with 40 other potential sponsors.
The NMEC is also announcing today that it has reached agreement in principle with Camelot to be the official distributor of tickets for the Millennium Experience at Greenwich. This will mean that there is a ticket outlet within 3 miles of 95% of the population of the United Kingdom.