HC Deb 28 October 1998 vol 318 cc192-4W
Mr. Mitchell

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish an account of the suggestions, instructions and advice which he has given to the New Millennium Experience Company about the Millennium Experience. [55684]

Mr. Mandelson

As Shareholder of the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) I have issued the Company with a Financial Memorandum and Accounts Direction, copies of which I laid in the Libraries of the House alongside the NMEC's Annual Report and Accounts on 30 July 1998,Official Report, column 564. In addition my role is to ensure that the Company meet the Prime Minister's five commitments on cost, content, national impact, legacy, and management.

The New Millennium Experience Coordinating Group, which I chair, brings together representatives of the NMEC, the Millennium Commission and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to discuss progress in meeting these commitments. The group is not, however, an executive body, and I have no executive role as far as the NMEC is concerned.

Mr. Mitchell

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish an account of all the proposals received by himself or the New Millennium Experience Company for the content of the Millennium Experience, describing the(a) scrutiny and (b) response which each proposal received. [55685]

Mr. Mandelson

Officials at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, who support me in my role as shareholder of the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) pass every proposal I receive for ideas for the content of Dome content to the NMEC. The NMEC has received over 5,000 unsolicited proposals about the content of the Dome, related events and works of art. All such proposals are acknowledged on receipt. All content proposals received to date have been considered by a panel of NMEC's Production team who have responsibility for the Dome's content. The criteria used to assess the proposals include deliverability, compatibility with the various content design briefs and with the overall theme of the Millennium Experience (Time to Make a Difference), cost and attractiveness to visitors. Whilst imaginative and unusual, many of the proposals fail against these criteria. Those considered to be of merit are fed into the NMEC's established creative processes for content development. However, as the project moves through its implementation phases the scope for unsolicited proposals being taken into account in the development of the content reduces.

The costs of publishing details of the 5,000 proposals received, assuming the authors would agree to publication, are not considered to represent value for money.

Mr. Mitchell

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the persons or organisations who will be responsible for providing the information and ideas to be conveyed in each zone of the Millennium Experience. [55686]

Mr. Mandelson

The New Millennium Experience Company's (NMEC) strategy is to ensure that as broad a range of advice and opinion as possible is taken on board in the development of the zone content. The Company established, in December 1997, a Strategic Creative Review Group—"The Litmus Group"—which is particularly concerned with the information and ideas conveyed in each zone, and the means by which they are presented. The Litmus Group meets regularly with the Company, the exhibit zone designers and the sponsors. The Group's membership and terms of reference are set out in the NMEC's Annual Report and Financial Statements 1997/98 which were published and laid in the House on 30 July 1998,Official Report, column 564.

In addition, on 21 October the Company announced the first group of "Godparent" advisers to the exhibit zones. All are experts in their fields with experience of communicating ideas in medicine, entertainment, science, the arts and the environment to wide audiences. They are Lord Puttnam (Work and Learn zones); Floella Benjamin (Local zone); Sir Neil Cossons (Mobility zone); Professor Richard Gregory CBE (Mind zone); Sir Michael Peckham and Professor Catherine Peckham (Body zone); the Hon. Sara Morrison (National zone); Professor Christopher Frayling (Spirit zone); John Sorrell CBE (National Identity zone); Michael Jolly (Play zone); and Simon Jenkins (Communicate zone). The Company have also set up twelve Youth Councils around the country, each comprising twenty 10–16 year olds, and a UK Youth Council which includes representatives from the twelve Councils and from the major national youth agencies. The Councils act as advocates, researchers and reporters on Millennium Experience plans.