§ Mr. Peter AinsworthTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Education and Employment regarding terms and conditions for teachers accompanying groups of pupils visiting the Millennium Dome. [78165]
§ Janet Anderson[holding answer 22 March 1999]The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) is in consultation with the Department for Education and Employment (DfEE) as part of the process of developing management plans for school and education visits. The procedures which the NMEC will adopt and operate will be based on established procedures for other visitor attractions. The ratio of children to teachers will be one adult to every six pupils in years 1 to 3 and special needs groups; one adult to every ten pupils in years 4 to 6; and one adult to every fifteen pupils in years 7 and above. Adults accompanying children in these groups will be admitted to the Dome free of charge.
§ Mr. Peter AinsworthTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what assessment he has made of the impact on the New Millennium Experience Company's budget for the Dome of granting free access to school parties; [78178]
(2) what estimate he has made of the effect on overall visitor numbers to the Dome of the policy of granting free access to school parties. [77999]
§ Janet Anderson[holding answer 22 March 1999]The New Millennium Experience Company's (NMEC) ticketing strategy provides for up to one million free admissions for school children on the Education Tours Scheme. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced details of this scheme in the House on 17 March 1999,Official Report, columns 1117. Copies of the NMEC's press release detailing the operation of the scheme have been placed in the Libraries of the House. Over and above this scheme, schools will be able to take advantage of the education visits discounted group rates.
274WThe NMEC remains confident that its forecast of 12 million visits remains achievable and that the children taking part in the Education Tour Scheme can be accommodated within that forecast. The Millennium Experience project remains within its £758 cash budget taking into account the free school admissions provision.
§ Mr. Peter AinsworthTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Education and Employment regarding the cost of overnight accommodation for parties of school children and teachers visiting the Millennium Dome. [78167]
§ Janet Anderson[holding answer 22 March 1999]The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) is not responsible for accommodation arrangements for visitors to the Millennium Experience at Greenwich. However, the NMEC is in discussion with the travel trade to encourage and facilitate attractive packages for those requiring overnight accommodation. For school children in organised groups, the NMEC has instigated a range of options for overnight accommodation with a number of youth hostels and higher education institutions who have expressed interest in providing safe, clean and affordable accommodation for school groups.