| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Millennium Compliance
Mr. Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of expenditure to date by the NHS to resolve the year 2000 computer problem; and if he will make a statement. [79726]
Mr. Denham: An analysis of quarterly monitoring returns for the period ended 31 December 1998, the latest available, shows the estimated total cost to be approximately £321 million. Further estimates will become available as future returns are made.
Mr. Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans the NHS has made to limit the risks to the provision of NHS services as a consequence of the year 2000 computer problem; and if he will make a statement. [79727]
Mr. Denham: There is a comprehensive programme for National Health Service Year 2000 preparations that reports progress via my right hon. Friend the President of the Council's quarterly statements to Parliament. The programme ensures that NHS organisations minimise the risks to the provisions of NHS services as a consequence of the year 2000 problem through the provision of guidance, attention to external suppliers, frequent monitoring of progress, independent assessment, performance management and disclosure of progress.
Task Forces and Policy Reviews
Dr. Tony Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish a list of (1) task forces and (2) policy reviews established by his Department since May 1997 which (a) had external members recruited by way of public advertisement, and details of any person so appointed and (b) engaged in public consultation exercises, and the form that these took. [74462]
Ms Jowell: Most task forces and reviews are short-term bodies established to give thorough consideration to important and difficult issues. External members are invited to sit on some reviews and task forces because they are able to contribute specific experience and expertise. In such cases, public advertising would be inappropriate and disproportionate.
Since 1 October 1998, appointments to those task forces which qualify for classification as advisory non-departmental public bodies have come within the remit of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.
It is rare for task forces and reviews to engage in public consultation exercises. Where, exceptionally, comments from the public or representative organisations are sought, a consultation document might be published inviting a response, as in the Review of the United Kingdom Transplant Support Service Authority.
14 Apr 1999 : Column: 272
Mr. Llew Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which non-governmental organisations have been consulted in respect of environmental aspects of the Millennium Experience; what plans there are to include exhibitions on British energy saving and environmental technologies; and if he will list the environmental issues which have been taken into account in the planning, construction and operation of the Dome. [70662]
Mr. Drew:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to use renewable energy sources to power the Millennium Dome. [75685]
Janet Anderson
[holding answer 11 March 1999]: The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) recognises the unique opportunity afforded by the Millennium Experience project to adopt positive environmental policies across all aspects of the project, including planning; construction; and operation. NMEC is doing so wherever possible, recognising the time and budgetary constraints within which it is operating. Underpinning NMEC's operation is its Environmental Plan (including targets and objectives) which has been presented to non-governmental organisations, and was approved by Greenwich Council in mid-1998. The Environmental Plan is regularly reviewed. The Plan is sent to all companies tendering for works, goods and services and they are required to include in their bids, statements of their own environmental polices.
A number of innovative environmental initiatives are already in progress on site. Following discussions with the NMEC, Thames Water is installing a state-of-the-art grey water recycling scheme at the Dome. During the year of operation, the NMEC will adopt a waste management strategy based on the concepts of waste reduction, re-use, recycling and efficient removal from the site, providing opportunities for innovative demonstration environmental projects. NMEC is also investigating supply strategies that will minimise the quantity of packaging coming onto the site and facilities to allow separation of those major waste streams that are generated in order that they can be processed or recycled efficiently. There is daily monitoring of dust and noise levels and robust systems are in place to ensure immediate response should any problems arise. Two firms of independent environmental consultants have reviewed the environmental health and safety and the environmental integrity of the site.
The Dome structure was conceived and developed as an energy and resource efficient means of housing a range of exhibits and attractions appropriate to the conditions of the Greenwich peninsula site. The Dome does not provide a conventionally controlled environment; it is not air-conditioned, and heating and cooling provisions have been minimised to reflect the fact that visitors will be wearing clothing appropriate to outdoor conditions. In addition, the translucency of the Dome cladding material allows the interior to be naturally lit for much of the year. It is inevitable that operating a large scale visitor attraction requires a significant quantity of power, but NMEC will seek to minimise this requirement wherever it is practicable to do so.
14 Apr 1999 : Column: 273
In the early stages of the development of the National zone, in which there will be a significant focus on environmental matters, meetings were held with representatives from the Council of Rural England, Greenpeace, and the Natural Foresight Panel (DTI). The Environment Agency has ongoing liaison with the NMEC in light of its statutory role and responsibilities and in the light of its work in regenerating Thames River bank areas adjacent to the Dome site. In this latter respect the Dome has provided the catalyst for the creation of a new river bank ecology and ecological terrace as well as for regeneration of the Peninsula as a whole. The NMEC also has ongoing contacts with non-governmental organisations such as Greenpeace.
The National zone will explore the UK's relationship with the environment and its structure will optimise use of environmentally positive materials and techniques. The Local zone, unveiled on BBC Television's Blue Peter programme earlier this year, will be one of the largest recycled cardboard structures in the world. Children across the UK have been invited to participate in the creation of the zone. Other exhibit zones and areas within the Dome will also incorporate and address issues which have an environmental aspect.
Mr. Peter Ainsworth:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Education and Employment regarding terms and conditions for teachers accompanying groups of pupils visiting the Millennium Dome. [78165]
Janet Anderson
[holding answer 22 March 1999]: The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) is in consultation with the Department for Education and Employment (DfEE) as part of the process of developing management plans for school and education visits. The procedures which the NMEC will adopt and operate will be based on established procedures for other visitor attractions. The ratio of children to teachers will be one adult to every six pupils in years 1 to 3 and special needs groups; one adult to every ten pupils in years 4 to 6; and one adult to every fifteen pupils in years 7 and above. Adults accompanying children in these groups will be admitted to the Dome free of charge.
Mr. Peter Ainsworth:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what assessment he has made of the impact on the New Millennium Experience Company's budget for the Dome of granting free access to school parties; [78178]
Janet Anderson
[holding answer 22 March 1999]: The New Millennium Experience Company's (NMEC) ticketing strategy provides for up to one million free admissions for school children on the Education Tours Scheme. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced details of this scheme in the House on 17 March 1999, Official Report, columns 1117. Copies of the NMEC's press release detailing the operation of the scheme have been placed in the Libraries of the House. Over and above this scheme, schools will be able to take advantage of the education visits discounted group rates.
14 Apr 1999 : Column: 274
The NMEC remains confident that its forecast of 12 million visits remains achievable and that the children taking part in the Education Tour Scheme can be accommodated within that forecast. The Millennium Experience project remains within its £758 cash budget taking into account the free school admissions provision.
Mr. Peter Ainsworth:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Education and Employment regarding the cost of overnight accommodation for parties of school children and teachers visiting the Millennium Dome. [78167]
Janet Anderson
[holding answer 22 March 1999]: The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) is not responsible for accommodation arrangements for visitors to the Millennium Experience at Greenwich. However, the NMEC is in discussion with the travel trade to encourage and facilitate attractive packages for those requiring overnight accommodation. For school children in organised groups, the NMEC has instigated a range of options for overnight accommodation with a number of youth hostels and higher education institutions who have expressed interest in providing safe, clean and affordable accommodation for school groups.
(2) what estimate he has made of the effect on overall visitor numbers to the Dome of the policy of granting free access to school parties. [77999]
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |