HC Deb 08 February 1999 vol 325 cc73-4W
Mr. Vaz

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) if applicants for contracts for catering facilities at the Dome were interviewed by a panel which included a person who was not employed by the New Millennium Experience Company; [69085]

(2) what tendering procedure was used for the catering facilities in the vicinity of the Dome; [68179]

(3) what steps were taken by the NMEC to ensure that interviews for catering contracts were conducted by the same panel; [68175]

(4) what external legal advice was taken by the NMEC before commencing the tenders procedure for catering contracts. [68174]

(5) if all applicants for catering facilities at the Dome were interviewed by the same panel. [67269]

Janet Anderson

The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) adopted a competitive tendering process for procuring a range of catering services. The NMEC had previously sought general advice from Treasury Solicitors about public procurement rules and regulations to satisfy itself that the processes it was implementing to procure goods, works and services across the project reflected the competitive principles of public sector procurement. The interviewing panel comprised three voting and one independent members. The aim of the panel was to bring the bidders to a position where they were all on an equal footing given that the nature and the content of each bid varied. Consequently, therefore, the questions put to each bidder were framed differently depending on the written material provided by them. Of the three voting members, all were present at all interviews. The independent non-voting members varied and included the NMEC's Deputy Operations Director and the Chair of the NMEC Catering Review Group.

Mr. Baker

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if visitors to the Millennium Dome will be able to purchase food free of Genetically Modified Organisms. [67484]

Janet Anderson

[holding answer 25 January 1999]: Visitors to the Millennium Experience at Greenwich will be able to purchase a wide variety of foods including food free of Genetically Modified Organisms.

Mr. Vaz

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what provision there is for(a) Chinese food, (b) halal food and (c) kosher food at the Dome; [68183]

(2) what is his policy on the provision of ethnic food at the Dome. [67268]

Janet Anderson

The New Millennium Experience Company's policy is to provide as wide a range of catering services and food types as possible at the dome recognising the varied tastes which the anticipated 12 million visitors will have. Ethnic cuisine and food meeting some religious needs will be available. Foods from around the world will be showcased in the Global Food Court and elsewhere within the Dome.