§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which non-governmental organisations have been consulted in respect of environmental aspects of the Millennium Experience; what plans there are to include exhibitions on British energy saving and environmental technologies; and if he will list the environmental issues which have been taken into account in the planning, construction and operation of the Dome. [70662]
§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to use renewable energy sources to power the Millennium Dome. [75685]
§ Janet Anderson[holding answer 11 March 1999]The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) recognises the unique opportunity afforded by the Millennium Experience project to adopt positive environmental policies across all aspects of the project, including planning; construction; and operation. NMEC is doing so wherever possible, recognising the time and budgetary constraints within which it is operating. Underpinning NMEC's operation is its Environmental Plan (including targets and objectives) which has been presented to non-governmental organisations, and was approved by Greenwich Council in mid-1998. The Environmental Plan is regularly reviewed. The Plan is sent to all companies tendering for works, goods and services and they are required to include in their bids, statements of their own environmental polices.
A number of innovative environmental initiatives are already in progress on site. Following discussions with the NMEC, Thames Water is installing a state-of-the-art grey water recycling scheme at the Dome. During the year of operation, the NMEC will adopt a waste management strategy based on the concepts of waste reduction, re-use, recycling and efficient removal from the site, providing opportunities for innovative demonstration environmental projects. NMEC is also investigating supply strategies that will minimise the quantity of packaging coming onto the site and facilities to allow separation of those major waste streams that are generated in order that they can be processed or recycled efficiently. There is daily monitoring of dust and noise levels and robust systems are in place to ensure immediate response should any problems arise. Two firms of independent environmental consultants have reviewed the environmental health and safety and the environmental integrity of the site.
The Dome structure was conceived and developed as an energy and resource efficient means of housing a range of exhibits and attractions appropriate to the conditions of the Greenwich peninsula site. The Dome does not provide a conventionally controlled environment; it is not air-conditioned, and heating and cooling provisions have been minimised to reflect the fact that visitors will be wearing clothing appropriate to outdoor conditions. In addition, the translucency of the Dome cladding material allows the interior to be naturally lit for much of the year. It is inevitable that operating a large scale visitor attraction requires a significant quantity of power, but NMEC will seek to minimise this requirement wherever it is practicable to do so.
273WIn the early stages of the development of the National zone, in which there will be a significant focus on environmental matters, meetings were held with representatives from the Council of Rural England, Greenpeace, and the Natural Foresight Panel (DTI). The Environment Agency has ongoing liaison with the NMEC in light of its statutory role and responsibilities and in the light of its work in regenerating Thames River bank areas adjacent to the Dome site. In this latter respect the Dome has provided the catalyst for the creation of a new river bank ecology and ecological terrace as well as for regeneration of the Peninsula as a whole. The NMEC also has ongoing contacts with non-governmental organisations such as Greenpeace.
The National zone will explore the UK's relationship with the environment and its structure will optimise use of environmentally positive materials and techniques. The Local zone, unveiled on BBC Television's Blue Peter programme earlier this year, will be one of the largest recycled cardboard structures in the world. Children across the UK have been invited to participate in the creation of the zone. Other exhibit zones and areas within the Dome will also incorporate and address issues which have an environmental aspect.