§ Mr. SpringTo ask the Minister without Portfolio what is the total level of sponsorship funding for the Dome's contents which has been contractually agreed; and if he will list the sponsors and the sums involved. [50736]
§ Mr. Mandelson[holding answer 16 July 1998]: The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) have identified over £100m of sponsorship, from companies such as BT, BSkyB, Manpower, Tesco, Marks and Spencer, BA and BAA. Negotiations on the detailed contracts between these companies and the NMEC are at an advanced stage. The unique scale of this project, including the sponsorship target, inevitably means that both sponsors and the NMEC are breaking new ground and careful and detailed work is therefore required before contracts can be confirmed.