HC Deb 19 January 1998 vol 304 cc427-8W
28. Mr. Page

To ask the Minister without Portfolio how much public money he estimates will be spent on the millennium experience. [21472]

Mr. Mandelson

No taxpayers' money is being spent on the project other than that already committed by English Partnerships to prepare the site for development.

Sponsored Body Role Name Remuneration
New Millennium Experience Company Deputy Chairman Sam Chisholm None
New Millennium Experience Company Board Member Sir Alan Cockshaw None
New Millennium Experience Company Board Member Michael Grande CBE None
New Millennium Experience Company Board Member Ruth Mackenzie None

The New Millennium Experience Company is receiving a Lottery grant of £399 million (net) from the Millennium Commission. A further £359 million of income will be raised from sponsorship, commercial activities, visitor revenue and disposal income.

30. Mr. Loughton

To ask the Minister without Portfolio how much of the Greenwich millennium experience's budget will be raised through ticket sales. [21474]

Mr. Mandelson

The New Millennium Experience Company currently estimates that around £168 million of the budget will be raised from visitor revenue including ticketing and merchandising.

Mr. Maude

To ask the Minister without Portfolio if he will make a statement on the role that Christianity will play in the Millennium Experience. [23229]

Mr. Vaz

To ask the Minister without Portfolio what is the Government's policy in respect of the religious content of the Millennium Dome. [23576]

Mr. Mandelson

I refer the right hon. Member and my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Ceredigion (Mr. Dafis) on 24 November 1997,Official Report, column 388.

Mr. Dalyell

To ask the Minister without Portfolio, pursuant to his oral answer of 8 December 1997,Official Report, column 660, if he will make a statement on his ticketing and transport arrangements for people from Scotland and the north of England. [21607]

Mr. Mandelson

The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) is continuing to develop its ticketing strategy. The Company's aim is to set prices which are as low as possible and therefore are affordable to the maximum number of people whilst achieving the revenue required by the budget.

NMEC will work closely with all public transport providers, especially coach and rail operators, and with the travel trade, with the aim of ensuring that travel tickets can be sold together with Millennium Experience tickets and that the transport providers offer keenly priced fares.

29. Mr. Robathan

To ask the Minister without Portfolio if he will make a statement on the future uses of the millennium dome after 2000. [21473]

Mr. Mandelson

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Selby (Mr. Grogan) on 1 December 1997,Official Report, columns 2–3.