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Millennium Experience (Catering)
Dr. Ladyman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) if he will list the procedures that were followed in respect of advertising, tendering and awarding the concession for supplying ice cream in the Millennium Experience and if similar procedures were used in respect of other concessions; [67668]
- (2) to whom the concession for the supply of ice cream in the Millennium Experience has been granted. [67667]
Janet Anderson:
The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) has made no announcement about the supply of ice cream to the Dome. Since its establishment in 1997 the NMEC has been openly seeking private sector support for the project and, as a result, companies across all
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sectors of the economy have been free to approach NMEC with proposals. Very many have done so including those in the confectionary/ice cream sector. Where NMEC consider that such approaches hold a serious prospect of achieving commercial support which will not adversely impact on the integrity of the Millennium Experience, discussions are entered into. This was the case with approaches received from confectionary/ice cream suppliers where NMEC considered that their Official Supplier category of sponsorship support might be achievable. Official Supplier sponsorship is a well-established practice across major events and visitor attractions where there is a requirement or opportunities for enhancing commercial income.
Mr. Maude:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what responsibilities which his Department had prior to the Comprehensive Spending Review are to be (a) discontinued by his Department, (b) transferred to another department, (c) transferred to an executive agency and (d) added to his Department over the period 1998-99 to 2001-02. [68399]
Mr. Chris Smith:
The Comprehensive Spending Review did not result in the discontinuation or transfer of any DCMS responsibilities to other Government Departments or to executive agencies. A number of executive functions which prior to the Review were undertaken by the Department are being transferred to relevant NDPBs. These are:
funding of the Pairing Scheme to the Arts Council of England;
funding of the Sportsmatch scheme to the English Sports Council;
funding for the Heritage Grant Fund and the Architectural Heritage Fund to English Heritage;
funding for the Royal Society of Arts Art for Architecture scheme to the new national body for architecture;
management responsibility for a number of central London statues and for Marble and Wellington Arches to English Heritage;
some executive functions relating to underwater archaeology will be transferred to English Heritage, subject to a legislative opportunity. Administrative responsibility for the Advisory Committee on Historic Wreck Sites will also be transferred out of the DCMS, in discussion with the heritage agencies of the other Home Counties, and the devolved administration once established;
subject to Parliamentary approval, management responsibility for Parliament and Trafalgar Squares will be transferred to the Greater London Authority when it is established;
subject to agreement on the transfer of funding, responsibility for the maintenance of Marlborough House will transfer from the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions to DCMS on 1 April 1999;
the Department has agreed to take over responsibility from the Ministry of Defence for that part of the Public Meteorological Service related to basic weather forecasts that are provided for the BBC.
Millennium Dome (Safety)
Mr. Peter Ainsworth:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with the Health and Safety Executive regarding public safety at the Millennium Exhibition in Greenwich. [64649]
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Janet Anderson
[holding answer 11 January 1999]: The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) are in regular discussions with the Health and Safety Executive and other relevant authorities regarding public safety at the Millennium Experience.
Mr. Mitchell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to include a display relating to the history of trade unions in the United Kingdom in the Millennium Dome. [64807]
Janet Anderson:
The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) has no plans to include a specific display on the history of trade unions in the Dome.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what is the total amount of sponsorship raised for the Millennium Dome by IMG. [67485]
Janet Anderson
[holding answer 25 January 1999]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to the hon. Member for Christchurch (Mr. Chope) on 14 December 1998, Official Report, column 363.
Mr. Berry:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what arrangements have been made to ensure that the Millennium Dome is fully accessible for disabled people. [67251]
Janet Anderson
[holding answer 25 January 1999]: The Access Advisory Group was the first advisory group to be established by the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC). It held its first meeting in June 1997 and considers accessibility and special needs issues in relation to the Dome. Members are drawn from a range of voluntary sector organisations covering physical, sensory and learning disabilities, mental health issues and the needs of older people. The group is chaired by Mr. David Phillips of Holiday Care Service.
The NMEC aims to provide for the needs of people with disabilities in an exemplary fashion, taking full account of advice from the experts on the Advisory Group. The Group has advised the Company on a wide range of accessibility issues including transportation, parking, the natural and built environment, displays and facilities, on-site information and promotional materials, ticketing arrangements, and disability awareness training.
Parking will be available for Orange Badge holders on a pre-booked basis, close to the Dome entrance. There will be landtrains available; there will be level, ramped or list access to all areas, displays and features; and there will be wheelchairs available for those who require them. Suitable toilets will be available at each of the six service cores in the Dome and elsewhere around the site.
Mr. Vaz:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on progress in securing a sponsor for the Spirit Zone of the Dome. [68178]
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Janet Anderson:
The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) are making good progress towards securing support for the Spirit Zone from a number of sources.
Mr. Vaz:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the membership of the Board of the NMEC and their remuneration. [68180]
Janet Anderson:
Details of the New Millennium Experience Company's (NMEC) Board membership are set out in the Company's Annual Report and Financial Statements 1997-98, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House. Non-executive Board members receive no remuneration. Details of remuneration applicable to the executive Board members (the Chief Executive, the Managing Director and the Finance Director) are in the Annual Report.
Mr. Vaz:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what has been the cost of legal advice given to the NMEC. [68176]
Janet Anderson:
As is normal practice across the public and private sector, the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) retains legal advisors and, as necessary, seeks specialist legal advice in order to satisfy itself that its legal duties and obligations are met in all aspects of the Millennium Experience project. As is also normal practice, the company has its own in-house legal team. Details of the contractual arrangements with legal advisors and payments made are commercially confidential.
Mr. Vaz:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when the contract for legal advice to the NMEC was awarded to Sharpe Pritchard and Co.; and what tendering procedure was used. [68177]
Janet Anderson:
The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) does not have a contract with Sharpe Pritchard for legal advice. Sharpe Pritchard are contacted as a parliamentary reporting service providing relevant extracts to the NMEC from the Official Report.
Mr. Peter Ainsworth:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what arrangements have been made for the disposal of waste generated by the Millennium Exhibition at Greenwich. [64650]
Janet Anderson
[holding answer 11 January 1999]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Mid-Norfolk (Mr. Simpson) on 1 February 1999, Official Report, column 455.
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