Millennium Experience (Hansard, 18 June 1998)

§ Mr. Mandelson

The New Millennium Experience Company has a board of 10 non-executive directors: Bob Ayling (chairman); Sam Chisholm (deputy chairman); Ian Ash; the hon. Mrs. Sara Morrison; Sir Brian Jenkins; Councillor Len Duvall; David Quarmby; Sir Alan Cockshaw; Michael Grade; Ruth Mackenzie; and three executive directors: Jennie Page, chief executive; Liam Kane, managing director; and Steve Brown, finance and corporate services director. The board meets once every month and has met six times in 1998. In line with normal company practice, the board has established a number of committees, with specific delegated responsibilities, to act on its behalfThe executive committee (chaired by Sam Chisholm; members are Michael Grade, Jennie Page and, co-opted members, David Chance and Matthew Freud). The terms of reference provide for the chairman to decide the frequency of meetings. The committee has met 13 times in the 1998 calendar year to date. 302W The audit committee (chaired by Sir Brian Jenkins; members are Ian Ash and Len Duvall). The terms of reference provide for the committee to meet not less than twice each year and otherwise as any member may require. The chief executive, in her role as accounting officer attends the meetings of this committee, as does the finance and corporate services director. The committee has met four times in the 1998 calendar year to date. The remuneration and recruitment committee (chaired by Bob Ayling; members are Sir Brian Jenkins, the hon. Mrs Sara Morrison and David Quarmby). The terms of reference provide for the committee to meet not less than twice a year and otherwise as often as the members may require. The Committee has met twice in the 1998 calendar year to date. The health, safety and environment committee (chaired by David Quarmby; members are Sir Alan Cockshaw and the hon. Mrs Sara Morrison). The terms of reference provide for the committee to meet at least four times a year and otherwise as often as any member may require. The committee has met once in the 1998 calendar year to date.

In addition the NMEC has established two advisory groups: The advisory group on accessibility (chaired by David Phillips—holiday care services; members are Paul Bush—TFA consortium; Stephen Bradshaw—Spinal Injuries Association; Peter Holland—Disability Partnership; Peter Parker—VRNIB GDBA; David Bonnett—Access for England; Claire Goodridge—RADAR; Brian McGinnis— MENCAP; Sue Peace—Buro Happold; Andrew Berry—SCOPE; Sara Langton— Lockton—CAE; Carol Thomas—Disability Wales; Robert Pickles—Disability Scotland; Fiona Hill—South East MIND; Andrew Bradock—London Transport; Monica Wilson—Disability Action Northern Ireland; Ken Whittingham RNID; Wendy Dibdin—Greenwich Association for Disabled People; Orla McCann—Disability Action Northern Ireland; Bob Benson—Disability Scotland). The group held its first meeting in June 1997. During 1998, three meetings have been held to date. The creative strategic review group—the "litmus group" (chaired by Michael Grade— board member and chairman, First Leisure Corporation plc; members are Ruth Mackenzie—board member and general director, Scottish Opera; Floella Benjamin—Floella Benjamin Productions; Sir Neil Cossons—director, the national museum of science and industry; Mike Davies—Richard Rogers Partnership; Professor Christopher Frayling—rector, Royal College of Art; Simon Jenkins—millennium commissioner and journalist; Michael Jolly, chairman and chief executive, the Tussauds Group and chairman CBI tourism action group; Lord Puttnam—chairman, Enigma productions; Lord Rogers—chairman, Richard Rogers Partnership; John Sorrell—chairman, the Design Council; and Alan Yentob—Director of Television BBC). The group was established in December 1997 and has met eight times in 1998 to date.

The NMEC liaises closely with other groups and committees established by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, notably the Lambeth group. The company also attends the new millennium experience co-ordinating group set up by the Minister without Portfolio, who is shareholder of the company on behalf of Government, and which is also attended by representatives of the Millennium Commission.