§ Dr. LadymanTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) if he will list the procedures that were followed in respect of advertising, tendering and awarding the concession for supplying ice cream in the Millennium Experience and if similar procedures were used in respect of other concessions; [67668]
(2) to whom the concession for the supply of ice cream in the Millennium Experience has been granted. [67667]
§ Janet AndersonThe New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) has made no announcement about the supply of ice cream to the Dome. Since its establishment in 1997 the NMEC has been openly seeking private sector support for the project and, as a result, companies across all 75W sectors of the economy have been free to approach NMEC with proposals. Very many have done so including those in the confectionary/ice cream sector. Where NMEC consider that such approaches hold a serious prospect of achieving commercial support which will not adversely impact on the integrity of the Millennium Experience, discussions are entered into. This was the case with approaches received from confectionary/ice cream suppliers where NMEC considered that their Official Supplier category of sponsorship support might be achievable. Official Supplier sponsorship is a well-established practice across major events and visitor attractions where there is a requirement or opportunities for enhancing commercial income.