HC Deb 05 March 1999 vol 326 cc949-50W
Mr. Marshall-Andrews

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what further budget review for the Millennium Experience he has received since October 1998; and if he will place a copy in the Library; [74904]

  1. (2) if he will make a statement on the matters raised in paragraph 6 of the Comptroller and Auditor General's report on the accounts of the Millennium Commission for 1997–98; Financial Control of Expenditure, relating to the Millennium Experience (HC 1128); [74905]
  2. (3) what plans he has to advance further public finance, whether from Government or the Millennium Commission, to the Millennium Experience (a) as predicted in section six of the Comptroller and Auditor General's report on the Account of the Millennium Commission for 1997–98: Financial Control of Expenditure relating to the Millennium Experience (HC 1128) and (b) otherwise; [74986]
  3. (4) what steps have been taken by himself or his Department in response to paragraph 6 of the Comptroller and Auditor General's report on the Accounts of the Millennium Commission for 1997–98: Financial Control of Expenditure relating to the Millennium Experience (HC 1128) to identify the potential source of supplementary finance. [74985]

Janet Anderson

The decision to proceed with the Millennium Experience was made on the basis of five key commitments, one of which was that it must not result in any extra burden on the public purse. That remains the Government's position.

The Millennium Commission's accounts cover the period to 31 March 1998. Since then, the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) costs have remained within budget and the Company has announced that £142 million of sponsorship has been achieved—nearly 95 per cent. of its target and the largest amount of sponsorship ever raised for any single event. The Comptroller and Auditor General's Report did not suggest that the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) would not raise the money needed and did not qualify the Accounts in any way.

As a matter of normal business practice and commercial prudence, the NMEC itself undertakes regular, planned reviews of its budget. Under the terms of the Millennium Commission's grant, the NMEC consults the Commission on the outcome of these reviews. The Commission has endorsed the NMEC's budget and the NMEC's approach to its reviews. The NMEC and the Millennium Commission's budget documents and business plans are commercially confidential.

The NMEC is required to meet all the normal requirements that are placed on a Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB) including the publication of its Annual Report and audited Accounts. The NMEC Accounts for 12 February 1997 to 31 March 1998 were laid before Parliament in July 1998 and the Company will be publishing its next Report and Accounts this summer.