§ Nick HarveyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the total(a) costs and (b) revenue were of the (i) 2000 and (ii) 2001 new year's eve functions held at the Millennium Dome; how the events were planned; how the contracts were negotiated; with whom contacts were entered into; if similar events are planned at the Millennium Dome in the future; what the costs for maintaining the Dome and the surrounding site were for each of the past 24 months; and if he will make a statement. [29586]
§ Ms KeebleThe New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) was responsible for the Dome up to the end of June 2001. English Partnerships took ownership of the Dome on 1 July 2001.
The new year's eve events in 2000 and 2001 were both held by the Ministry of Sound.
NMEC received £90,900 from the Ministry of Sound in connection with the new year's eve 2000 event which included payments to cover incremental costs totalling £40,900. NMEC bore costs of £11,000 directly related to the event and the Ministry of Sound met additional costs itself. The event was carefully planned by staff at the Dome and representatives of the Ministry of Sound over a period of several weeks, resulting in an agreement between NMEC and the Ministry of Sound. The event took place in the "Skyscape" building situated on land adjacent to the Dome.
For the 2001 new year's eve event in the Dome, English Partnerships received a total payment of £219,125 from Ministry of Sound—£75,000 as a basic hire charge and the remainder as a share of ticket revenue. In addition, Ministry of Sound paid for all the costs of organising the event.
The records of NMEC show that maintenance costs for the Dome and site (in £000s) as borne by NMEC were as follows (calculated on a cash paid basis):
368W
£000 2000 January 2,078 February 1,897 March 2,013 April 1,868 May 1,956 June 1,802 July 1,937 August 1,705 September 1,306 October 1,492
£000 November 1,388 December 1,543 2001 January 280 February 352 March 357 April 662 May 773 June -630 July 59 August 121 September -498 October 82 November 28 December 14 The figures for 2000 include insurance. The available figures for 2001 do not include insurance. It is estimated that the element of NMEC's insurance for 2001 which related to the Dome and site was approximately £700,000. It is not possible to apportion this to individual months. The figures for the last six months in 2001 relate to outstanding invoices and rebates for the first half of the year.
Since English Partnerships took ownership of the Dome on 1 July 2001, their total running cost1 expenditure incurred (in £000s) in relation to the Dome, broken down by month and calculated on an accruals basis, has been2
£000 July 223 August 238 September 220 October 229 November 275 December 266 All these costs will be recovered from eventual sale proceeds.
As regards the future use of the Dome, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, to my hon. Friend the Member for Eccles (Mr. Stewart) on 18 December 2001, Official Report, columns 220–21W.
English Partnerships have been asked to explore further short-term events at the Dome and have received a number of approaches for events during 2002, on which discussions are continuing.
1 Includes rates, utilities, security and maintenance, and EP staff costs on management and maintenance of the Dome.2 Subject to any reassessments by the relevant authorities, of rates or other charges included in the cost of managing and maintaining the Dome.
§ Nick HarveyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will provide a breakdown of the monthly costs of maintaining the Millennium Dome until the contract with Meridian Delta has been completed, including(a) the cost of staff, advisers and details of their responsibilities, (b) maintenance and (c) other costs. [32805]
369W
§ Ms KeebleSince English Partnerships took ownership of the Dome on 1 July 2001, their total running cost1 expenditure incurred in relation to the Dome, broken down by month and calculated on an accruals basis, has been2
£000 July 223 August 238 September 220 October 229 November 275 December 266 During 2001 English Partnerships also incurred £6.1 million on decommissioning the Dome contents in preparation for a future use and £2.2 million in relation to the current sale process. The cost of the previous competition to find a long-term use for the Dome, which began in March 1999 and ended at the beginning of 2001, was £6.7 million.
All these costs will be recovered from eventual sale proceeds.
I will be pleased to write to the hon. Member informing him of monthly running costs figures in arrears, until the proposed deal with Meridian Delta Ltd is concluded.
1 Includes rates, utilities, security and maintenance, and EP staff costs on management and maintenance of the Dome.2 Subject to any reassessments, by the relevant authorities, of rates or other charges included in the cost of managing and maintaining the Dome.