HL Deb 24 March 1998 vol 587 cc238-9WA
Lord Lester of Herne Hill

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have sufficient data to enable them to compare the relative costs of organising the Great Exhibition of 1851 and the Millennium Dome; and, if so, whether they will publish the comparison. [HL635]

Lord McIntosh of Haringey

The Government do not have detailed data on the 1851 Exhibition, and the two events are not, in any case, directly comparable.

However, the official history of the 1851 Exhibition lists the total expenditure as £335,742 (including the building and fittings at approximately £170,000).

The New Millennium Experience Company's overall cash budget for the Experience at Greenwich and the associated Challenge programme of events and activities is £758 million. Income to cover these costs comes from a £399 million (net) grant from the Millennium Commission and forecast £359 million from sponsorship, commercial activities, visitor revenues and disposal proceeds.