House of Commons - Culture, Media and Sport

Select Committee on Culture, Media and Sport First Report

III. CONTENT AND OPERATIONS

21. In our first consideration of the plans to develop the Millennium Experience against a tight and immutable deadline, we commented that the organisers would be required to "win a race against time".[54] It seems likely that NMEC will win that race. The construction and development phases for the Dome are nearing completion.[55] A formerly derelict and empty site is now densely populated with buildings: the Dome itself, "Skyscape", the Greenwich Pavilion, the Rotunda and the Pier.[56] Commendable though this achievement is, the greatest test is developing content to attract and excite the imaginations of vast numbers of visitors.

The zones

22. There will be 14 zones in the Millennium Dome.[57] As we saw during our visit to the site, they are at varying stages of development. However, Ms Page assured us that progress on the zones was on target and on budget. The majority of the zones would be fitted out "in the course of November" with their content initially constructed off site: "there is no reason ... [why] any zone will not be completed in time for the dress rehearsals in December".[58] The Faith Zone, the development of which has attracted controversy, appears to be taking shape to the satisfaction of both Church organisations and NMEC.[59] Lord Falconer thought that the zone would reflect upon "issues which people, whether they have a faith or not, would wish to look at".[60]

Other aspects of the content

23. There is more to the Dome than the 14 zones. All visitors will have an opportunity to see the Millennium Show in the central performance arena.[61] There will be what is described as "an innovative soft-play area"—known as "Timekeepers"—which "will be of particular appeal to children".[62] "Skyscape" will house two 2,500-seat cinemas, in which a special Blackadder film will be shown.[63] Live performances will be held in the Dome and elsewhere on the site.[64] "Skyscape" will also be used for non-Millennium Experience events, largely taking place on evenings when the Dome itself is not open.[65]

Education and the National Programme

24. One of NMEC's objectives is to deliver an educational Millennium Experience. One million free tickets for schoolchildren will be available under the Education Tour Scheme. Other school parties will be able to undertake Education Day visits at an all-in cost of £8 per child.[66] There will be carefully structured tours for schools participating in the Education Tour Scheme. Schools on paying visits will have more freedom to link a visit to particular themes in the curriculum.[67]

25. The educational value of the Dome and of visits to it will be enhanced through contacts between NMEC staff and schools. Education managers in NMEC's regional offices have contacted local schools and have issued free education packs on the Dome and the Millennium Experience.[68] Learning material will be sent to schools in advance to maximise the educational benefits.[69]

26. Many educational initiatives relating to the Dome are part of the National Programme developed by NMEC in collaboration with sponsors.[70] The "Our Town Story" performance programme has been developed in conjunction with education authorities and library boards throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Ms Page told us that authorities and boards were "very proud" of their designated days at the Dome.[71] Other National Programme initiatives have been launched and, according to Mr Robert Ayling, Chairman of NMEC, "continue to go from strength to strength".[72]

New Year's Eve

27. NMEC's performance will be judged over the whole of the operating period. However, the tone for the year may be set and further interest may be stimulated by the Dome Opening Celebration on 31 December 1999. In our previous Report, we considered three outstanding issues relating to the event: the attendance of members of the public; the spiritual dimension; and broadcasting.[73] Progress appears to have been made in all three areas.

28. First, NMEC has made clear that the Opening Celebration will be a family occasion and that the majority of the invited guests will be drawn from the general public. Nominations have been sought and competitions have been run by the media and by sponsors.[74] Second, agreement has been reached that Christian prayer, led by the Archbishop of Canterbury, should form a prominent part of the Opening Celebration, as will the Millennium Resolution, a short text prepared by Churches Together in England as part of plans to encourage the whole nation to join in a shared moment of national reflection on New Year's Eve 1999.[75] Third, broadcasting arrangements are likely to be established which ensure that the event is available very widely to television audiences.[76] It is estimated that there may be up to 2 billion viewers worldwide.[77]

29. NMEC is also responsible for some arrangements for New Year's Eve celebrations in London, organising events on the Thames and along its banks known collectively as "Big Time". The aim is "to ensure that London enjoys a safe but exciting, entertaining and inclusive evening".[78] "Big Time" will include a "Wall of Fire" moving along the river at a pace equivalent to the speed of sound.[79] The events are designed to ensure, in Mr Hill's words, that the riverside is "the place to be" in London on New Year's Eve.[80]

30. An event of this scale will pose a considerable challenge for the emergency services. The Metropolitan Police thought that "New Year's Eve is likely to represent the largest policing operation in London for at least a decade".[81] The Metropolitan Police evidence suggests that detailed contingency planning is being undertaken.[82] Lord Falconer was "completely satisfied that we have prepared ourselves, as much as any Government and emergency services possibly could, for any contingency that may strike on 31 December".[83] We trust that Lord Falconer's confidence will be justified.

31. Although it is right that, in making preparations for New Year's Eve, the accent should, first and foremost, be on safety, we were disappointed to learn that, for "safety reasons", the Fair on the Mall, which forms part of "Big Time", may have to wind down as early as 2.00 am to 2.30 am.[84] We believe that this is a blinkered attitude towards what may be the biggest communal celebration this country has ever seen. Lord Falconer signalled a willingness to renew discussions with the emergency services on the time at which events finish.[85] We recommend that further consideration be given to the closing time for publicly organised events during "Big Time" as a matter of urgency. We expect to receive a report on the outcome of the consideration in early December.

Conclusions

32. Now is not the time for this Committee to make judgements on the content and operations of the Millennium Experience. We have received briefings on progress in recruiting staff and on other operational matters and have seen the content take shape inside the Dome, but it is too soon to assess the outcome of NMEC's efforts. Such an assessment will be possible only once paying visitors start to arrive. Lord Falconer said that there would be some testing of zones in December,[86] but by that time it will be too late to make significant changes. As Lord Falconer noted, "In large measure we have had to back our judgement in relation to what the zones are going to be like and the extent to which they will appeal".[87]

54 HC (1997-98) 340-I, para 1. Back

55 Evidence, p 19. Back

56 Evidence, pp 19, 24. Back

57 Evidence, p 19. Back

58 QQ 90-92. Back

59 Evidence, p 63; Q 95. Back

60 Q 165. Back

61 Evidence, p 20. Back

62 Evidence, p 19. Back

63 Q 120. Back