§ 33. Mr. RandallTo ask the Minister without Portfolio how much public money he estimates will be spent on the millennium experience between now and the staging of the event. [46349]
§ Mr. MandelsonThe Millennium Experience is not being funded through taxation. The cost is being met roughly half by a National Lottery grant of £399m from the Millennium Commission, and the other half by private sector sponsorship and other commercial income including visitor revenue. To date, £104.5m of the £399m grant has been spent.
§ 34. Mr. BradyTo ask the Minister without Portfolio what assessment he has made of the economic impact of the millennium experience on the local economy. [46350]
§ Mr. MandelsonAn economic impact assessment was carried out as part of the planning application process for the Dome in October 1996. This study estimated that 10,000 jobs would be created as a result of the Millennium Experience, 2,000 on construction, 5,000 during the operation and a further 3,000 as a result of the effects on supplier companies and the effects of spending by an increased level of visitors in the area.