§ Nick HarveyTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the monthly running costs of the Millennium Dome were in the last six months. [104424]
§ Mr. McNultyFinal cost figures are not yet available for the first two months of 2003, as English Partnerships are awaiting a number of outstanding invoices. However, the Dome costs* incurred for the six months up to December 2002 was £1.493 million. This is made up according to the following monthly breakdown:
* Monthly costs include rates, utilities, security and maintenance, and English Partnerships' staff costs on management and maintenance of the Dome. Costs are calculated on an accruals basis and may be subject to reassessments, by the relevant authorities, of rates or other charges included in the cost of managing and maintaining the Dome.
£ Month Cost July 250,000 August 245,000 September 242,000 October 241,000 November 262,000 December 253,000 Total: 1,493,000 These costs, and other costs incurred by English Partnerships since they took ownership of the Dome on 1 July 2001, will be recovered from sale proceeds.
§ Nick HarveyTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of progress in handing over the Millennium Dome to Anschutz Entertainment Group; when he expects the handover to be completed; and if he will make a statement. [104425]
§ Mr. McNultyThe deal to hand over the Dome to Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) is primarily conditional upon the granting of planning permission. On 23 December 2002 Meridian Delta Ltd., jointly with English Partnership, AEG and Quintain Estates and Development, submitted a planning application to the London borough of Greenwich.
The London borough of Greenwich is currently considering the application and will have to decide in due course whether to grant planning permission. If it is minded to do so, the application will be referred to the Mayor of London and the First Secretary of State under the normal planning procedures.
As the application is going through the planning process I am unable to speculate on the likely timing of completing the deal and handing over the Dome to AEG.