HL Deb 11 July 2000 vol 615 cc26-7WA
Baroness Blatch

asked Her Majesty's Government:

When and by whom the sole shareholder of the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) was made aware of the advice of the Accounting Officer to the Millennium Commission that a further grant to the NMEC would not represent value for money; and what representations, if any, the sole shareholder made about the further use of lottery money. [HL2805]

The Minister of State, Cabinet Office (Lord Falconer of Thoroton)

While officials at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) who support me in my role as sole shareholder of the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) had been informed about the advice the Millennium Commission might give to the Millennium Commissioners, I did not know what the advice from the accounting officer was to be before the meeting on 21 May. After the meeting I was told by officials of the DCMS what advice had been given and what decision had been taken. I made no representation to the Millennium Commission about the use of lottery money in connection with the application, though I had discussed the subject informally with individual commissioners.