HC Deb 20 January 1998 vol 304 c520W
Mr. Spring

To ask the Minister without Portfolio what severance pay has been given to Mr. Stephen Bayley, former Creative Director of the New Millennium Experience Company. [23926]

Mr. Maude

To ask the Minister without Portfolio what severance pay has been granted to the former Creative Director of the New Millennium Experience Company. [23921]

Mr. Mandelson

The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) does not propose to make any severance payment to Stephen Bayley, the former creative consultant to the Company.

Mr. Maude

To ask the Minister without Portfolio if he plans to advertise for a replacement to the position of Creative Director of the New Millennium Exhibition Company. [23227]

Mr. Mandelson

The New Millennium Experience Company have no plan to replace Stephen Bayley as creative consultant to the Company.

Mr. Maude

To ask the Minister without Portfolio if he will make a statement on the circumstances surrounding the resignation of the Creative Director of the New Millennium Exhibition Company. [23228]

Mr. Mandelson

Mr. Bayley and the New Millennium Experience Company jointly announced on Friday 9 January that the basis of Mr. Bayley's association with the project had been changed by mutual agreement.

Mr. Bayley's former role was to advise the New Millennium Experience Company on aspects of the content of the exhibition. The intention was that he would continue to advise the Company on an ad-hoc basis.

In the light of Mr. Bayley's subsequent comments, the New Millennium Experience Company will not be asking him to undertake any further work.

Mr. Maude

To ask the Minister without Portfolio what is the date of the official launch of the New Millennium Exhibition Company. [23225]

Mr. Mandelson

I announced that Millennium Central Ltd. would be renamed the New Millennium Experience Company on 26 June 1997 at the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors. The Company's Articles of Association were amended as a result on 30 June 1997.