§ Mr. NormanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received from Sain Quintain plc and Grosvenor Estates in relation to the purchase of the site for the Dome. [150640]
§ Ms ArmstrongA consortium including Quintain Estates and Grosvenor wrote to the Deputy Prime Minister in January, in relation to proposed development on the Greenwich Peninsula, including the Dome. As the Government were in negotiations with Legacy plc as the preferred bidder at that time, this was forwarded to English Partnerships, which had been asked to register all such expressions of interest.
§ Mr. NormanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received from(a) Mr. P. Y. Gerbeau and (b) Nomura in relation to their proposed interest in the purchase of the Dome site. [150636]
§ Ms ArmstrongSince Dome Europe's withdrawal from the competition in September 2.000, the Government have received unsolicited expressions of interest both from P. Y. Gerbeau and Nomura International plc. These submissions were outside the terms of the competition. English Partnerships registered them while exclusive negotiations continued with Legacy plc.
§ Mr. NormanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what inquiries have been made by the Government in relation to the occupying of space in the Dome by(a) Sun Microsystems, (b) BT, (c) 3com, (d) NTL, (e) Imperial College and (f) the Open University. [150634]
§ Ms ArmstrongDuring the period of the preferred bidder status, it was for Legacy plc to assure the competition team about occupancy of space in the Dome had the contract been finalised. Advice was provided to the Government by the competition team on this issue.
§ Mr. NormanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions under what circumstances the sole bidder status enjoyed by Legacy plc in relation to negotiations for the purchase of the Dome site expires. [150638]
§ Ms ArmstrongI refer the hon. Member to my reply of 15 February 2001,Official Report, column 221W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Stockton, South (Ms Taylor).
§ Mr. NormanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many meetings he has attended with representatives of(a) Legacy plc and (b) Treasury Holdings, to discuss the sale of the Dome site. [150641]
326W
§ Ms ArmstrongThe Deputy Prime Minister attended a small number of meetings with the representatives of Legacy plc to discuss the sale of the Dome site, but none specifically with Treasury Holdings.
§ Mr. NormanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received from English Partnerships in relation to the proposed sale of the Dome to Legacy plc. [150637]
§ Ms ArmstrongEnglish Partnerships have provided advice to the Government throughout the sale process, including on the offer from Legacy plc.
§ Mr. NormanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment. Transport and the Regions what inquiries have been made by(a) the Government and (b) their advisers of Westminster City Council in relation to its dealings with (i) Happy Badge Ltd. and (ii) other companies associated with Mr. Robert Bourne. [150635]
§ Ms ArmstrongNone.
§ Mr. NormanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many approaches his Department has received from parties potentially interested in the purchase of the Dome site since 1 January [151275]
§ Ms ArmstrongBetween 12 September 2000, when Dome Europe withdrew from the competition and 14 February 2001, when Legacy plc's preferred bidder status expired, English Partnerships registered, on behalf of the Government, 72 unsolicited expressions of interest, of which five were received after 1 January 2001.
§ Mr. NormanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if the deadline of 14 February set out for the negotiations with Legacy plc was specified in the letter setting out the terms of preferred bidder status; [151274]
(2) what deadline has been set for the exchange of contracts with Legacy plc for the sale of the Dome site. [151273]
§ Ms ArmstrongThe preferred bidder letter, agreed by Legacy plc, required Legacy plc to meet several requirements to be delivered by 14 January 2001, and indicated that the Legacy team would work with the competition team with a view to exchanging contracts no later than 14 February 2001.
§ Mr. NormanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions at what time and on which day the decision to end the preferred bidder status of Legacy plc for the purchase of the Dome site and to reopen the competition was made. [151460]
§ Ms ArmstrongThe position is set out in my reply of 15 February 2001,Official Report, column 221W to my hon. Friend the Member for Stockton, South (Ms Taylor).
§ Mr. NormanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment. Transport and the Regions what contacts he, members of his Department or the competition team have had with potential new investors in Legacy plc. [151276]
§ Ms ArmstrongA small number of calls were received from parties wishing to know if they could join the Legacy team within the rules of the competition. They were advised of the rules, which permitted augmentation 327W if the bidder so wished, and they were advised that any such proposal would have to be agreed with Legacy, and that neither Ministers or the competition team could play any part in that process. Legacy plc introduced representatives of Teesland to the competition team and government representatives on Monday 12 February.
NormanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what advice he has sought on the credentials of Teesland plc as participants in the development of the Dome site. [151272]
§ Ms ArmstrongAppropriate advice was sought from and provided by the competition team, as is normal practice in a matter of this nature. The competition team advised on bids and bidders throughout the process and continued to do so while negotiations were ongoing with Legacy plc.
§ Mr. NormanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when his Department last met executives of(a) Teesland plc, (b) Mr. Kevin McCabe and (c) the housebuilding company, Fairbriar; and for what purpose. [151271]
§ Ms ArmstrongOfficials from my Department accompanied Lord Falconer and the competition team when they met Mr. McCabe and other representatives of Teesland plc, along with other members of the Legacy team, on 12 February to discuss their bid. No meeting has been held with Fairbriar.