§ Mrs. GilroyTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if the Minister for Tourism, Film and Broadcasting was advised by the New Millennium Experience Company that the information given in her written answer of 4 July 2000,Official Report, column 149W, on the proportion of sponsorship payment due to the New Millennium Experience Company in respect of the Millennium Dome, was factually correct. [136147]
§ Janet AndersonYes. However, I have now been advised by the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) that the information that they gave me was not correct. The answer should have been
384WAll sponsor contracts are individually tailored for each sponsorship, including phasing of sponsorship payments. As at 1 March, under the terms of their sponsorship agreement, Tesco were due to pay £1.75 million plus VAT. Of that, £1 million (plus VAT) had been received on 12 May 2000, leaving a balance of £750,000. The contract with Boots was nearing finalisation and the company had paid amounts in advance of signature. The Boots contract has now been signed and all due payments have been made.I apologise to the hon. Member for Lewes (Mr. Baker) for the unfortunate but unintentional error. I understand that David James, Executive Chairman of NMEC, is initiating a full investigation as to how this error occurred.