HC Deb 11 February 1999 vol 325 cc299-300W
Mr. Harvey

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the dimensions of the Millennium dome are; when tickets for the Millennium dome will first go on sale; what event is planned to mark the first tickets going on sale; how he will recruit people to perform in the central show in the dome; how many jobs have been created by the Millennium dome project to date; and how many people will work in the dome when it opens. [66865]

Janet Anderson

The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) plans to release tickets for sale to the general public from early Autumn 1999. The NMEC has no plans to hold a specific event to mark the sale of the first tickets direct to the public for the Millennium Experience. However, as part of the NMEC's planned marketing strategy there will be, during the summer and autumn of this year, a wide range of information on the Millennium Experience including ticket availability and processes; public transport routes; opportunities for travel and Dome ticket packages. This will be achieved through a wide range of media including television and national press.

The NMEC announced on 18 June 1998 that it was starting a recruitment campaign throughout the UK for 100 young people to have the chance to appear in the Millennium Show in the central area of the Dome. The first phase of auditions took place in August 1998 at which 43 young performers were recruited and they are now well into their training programme. The second phase of auditions are currently underway.

A total of 5,000 people will be employed at the Dome by the NMEC and catering companies during the year-long operation of the Millennium Experience. This includes performers, technical, operating and catering staff. The first phase of recruitment for operating staff begins in Spring 1999.

As a direct result of the Millennium Experience around 2,000 construction jobs have been created and it is estimated that a further 3,000 jobs will be created in secondary markets.