§ Mr. Peter AinsworthTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to his answer of 5 June 2000,Official Report, column 93W, on the Dome sale, in what proportions the proceeds of the sale of the Dome will be split between the New Millennium Experience Company and English Partnerships. [125449]
§ Mr. Chris Smith[holding answer 12 June 2000]The proportion of the proceeds that will be split between the New Millennium Experience Company and English Partnerships is still under consideration. Any such decision depends, among other issues, on the precise content of any winning bid for the Dome's legacy.
§ Mr. Peter AinsworthTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what legal technical and practical impediments exist to selling the Dome prior to 31 December. [125448]
§ Mr. Chris Smith[holding answer 12 June 2000]The handover of the Dome to the preferred bidder will take place on 1 January 2001. There are no plans to bring forward the competition timetable. While there are no legal reasons why the Dome could not be sold prior to 1 January, time constraints and issues surrounding planning permission could make handover prior to 1 January difficult for either of the two final shortlisted bidders.
§ Dr. GibsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what bids he has received to site biotechnology industry in the Dome following its sale. [126044]
§ Mr. Chris SmithNo bids to site biotechnology industry in the Dome have been received by the Competition team. However, the final shortlisted bid by Legacy plc, which proposes a high technology industrial campus, could be capable of accommodating biotechnology industry occupiers.
233W
§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) by what criteria the performance of Pierre-Yves Gerbeau will be judged for the purpose of bonus payment calculations; [125932]
(2) pursuant to the answer of 9 June 2000, Official Report, column 397W, regarding the Millennium Dome, if the target for visitor numbers which will be one of a range of measures used in any decision to award a bonus payment to the Chief Executive of the New Millennium Experience Company will be the stated target when P-Y. Gerbeau was appointed; and if he will make a statement. [126290]
§ Mr. Chris Smith[holding answer 19 June 2000]I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 4 February 2000,Official Report, column 771W, by my hon. Friend the Minister for Tourism, Film and Broadcasting.
§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport by what criteria the success of the Millennium Dome will be judged. [125933]
§ Mr. Chris Smith[holding answer 19 June 2000]The 2.7 million people that have visited the Millennium Dome have already judged the project to be a success. More than 85 per cent. of visitors come away from the Dome satisfied with their day and almost 80 per cent. say they will recommend a visit to family and friends. This is a higher satisfaction rating than for any other pay-to-visit attraction in Europe.