§ Mr. Peter AinsworthTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if Millennium Commission funds may be used to pay compensation for costs incurred in bidding for the dome site in the event of the failure of negotiations. [149342]
§ Janet Anderson[holding answer 7 February 2001]: The Millennium Commission, as providers of grant from the national lottery to the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC), has not underwritten bidders costs in relation to the competition for the sale of the dome. The rules of that competition makes no provision for meeting the costs of unsuccessful bidders.