§ Mr. YeoTo ask the Prime Minister if he will list the(a) Departments and (b) Ministers with responsibility for (i) the Millennium Dome and (ii) the Millennium Experience since 2 May 1997. [64579]
§ The Prime MinisterThe Department of National Heritage, renamed the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in July 1997, was responsible for the Dome until the end of June 2001, when responsibility was passed to the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions. In May 2002, responsibility was transferred to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister under machinery of Government changes.
The Department of National Heritage, renamed the Department for Culture Media and Sport in July 1997, has been the Department responsible for the New Millennium Experience Company, which built the Dome and operated the Millennium Experience, since 2 May 1997.
The Ministers with responsibility for the New Millennium Experience Company and the Dome since 2 May 1997 have been as follows. My right hon. Friend the Member for Islington, South and Finsbury (Mr. Smith) was responsible, in a caretaker role, from May to July 1997, when responsibility was transferred to the right hon. Member for Hartlepool (Mr. Mandelson). Responsibility was transferred from Peter Mandelson back to Chris Smith, again in a caretaker role, in December 1998. In January 1999, responsibility was transferred to Lord Falconer of Thoroton QC. Pending final decisions on the allocation of ministerial portfolios in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Rooker is dealing with policy issues related to the Dome, while responsibility for the New Millennium Experience Company will also transfer to a Minister in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in accordance with the established procedures in due course.