§ 31. Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what special arrangements and fares exist for people travelling from north Yorkshire to the Millennium Dome. [87230]
§ 33. Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps he is taking to encourage visitors from the north of England to the Millennium Dome. [87232]
§ Janet AndersonThe New Millennium Experience Company working with the travel industry, including rail and coach operators, aims to deliver packages combining travel and Dome entry. These will give visitors value for money and encourage all those who wish to visit the Dome to do so. Following the company's announcement of ticket prices on 18 March, the travel industry has already confirmed a range of attractive and competitive packages. For example, National Express has announced return coach travel and entry to the Dome for just £29.99 from anywhere in England, Scotland or Wales. I am sure that the people of North Yorkshire will take advantage of these good value packages.
§ 32. Mr. PoundTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what measures his Department is taking to promote the Millennium Dome overseas. [87231]
§ Mr. Chris SmithThe British Tourist Authority (BTA) is promoting the Millennium Dome overseas as part of its campaign—"Britain: Now is the time". In addition the BTA's website www.visitbritain.com has information on the Dome as well as links to the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC). The Department's website www.culture.gov.uk also contains information on the Dome and links to NMEC's site.
§ 35. Mr. WyattTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans there are for a religious service or moment on the opening night at the Millennium Dome. [87235]
§ Janet AndersonThe New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) is discussing the arrangements for the Opening Celebrations at the Dome with a number of interested parties including the Royal Household, the Government and Lambeth Palace. The nature and scope of the Celebrations will be announced in due course.
§ Ms Oona KingTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many temporary and permanent jobs he estimates will be created through the Millennium Dome. [87233]
45W
§ Janet AndersonI refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Doncaster, Central (Ms Winterton), today,Official Report colunn 13.
§ Mr. AmessTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimates he has made of the numbers likely to visit the millennium exhibition in the first year. [87236]
§ Janet AndersonThe Millennium Experience is planned as a one-year event running from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2000. The New Millennium Experience Company estimates that it will attract 12 million visitors during the year of operation.
§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the private companies which(a) have made and (b) are to make, financial contributions to the Millennium Dome. [86238]
§ Janet AndersonThe following businesses and organisations have been announced as sponsors: BAA, Barclays, Boots The Chemists, British Aerospace, British Airways, BSkyB, BT, Camelot, CGU, Coca Cola, Corporation of London, De Beers, Ford, GEC, Kodak, L'Oreal, Manpower, Marks and Spencer, Mars, McDonald's NatWest Group, Premier Brands, Prudential, Reuters, Roche, Tesco, Wall's, Woolwich and 3Com.
In addition, financial support for the Faith zone is being provided by organisations with Christian affiliations (the Laing Family Trusts, the Jerusalem Trust, three other trusts and foundations, and an international company with links to the UK), and from the Vedic tradition (the Hinduja Foundation). Payment of sponsorship moneys depends on the contractual arrangements made with the sponsors. NMEC's Annual Report and Financial Statements 1998–99 will be placed in the House Libraries in due course and will include audited figures for that financial year.