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Millennium Experience (Regions)
35. Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Minister without Portfolio what recent representations he has received about replicating the experience of the Millennium Dome in the regions. [50803]
Mr. Mandelson: I have received no representations about replicating the experience of the Millennium Dome in the regions. The Dome is the centrepiece of a UK wide celebration of the Millennium. There will be projects, events and activities all round the country in the year 2000. For example in my hon. Friend's region there will be the National Discovery Park in Liverpool and the National Wildflower Centre on Merseyside. There will also be a wide range of sporting events which will form part of the Millennium Festival.
38. Mr. Blizzard: To ask the Minister without Portfolio what plans he has to link the Millennium Experience with Millennium events in other parts of the country. [50806]
Mr. Mandelson: The New Millennium Experience Company is organising a dedicated national programme of events and activities throughout the country related to the Dome. The NMEC is also discussing with the Millennium Commission the possibility of collaboration between the Dome and the flagship projects funded by the Commission.
Millennium Dome (Sponsors)
37. Sir Teddy Taylor: To ask the Minister without Portfolio if he will make a statement on progress in attracting private sector sponsorship for the Millennium Dome. [50805]
Mr. Mandelson: I refer to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Buckingham (Mr. Bercow) earlier today.
Mr. Baker: To ask the Minister without Portfolio what undertakings he has given to sponsors of the Millennium Dome. [50804]
Mr. Mandelson: As shareholder of the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) I have offered no undertakings to sponsors. Whilst retaining overall editorial control to ensure the integrity of the Millennium Experience the NMEC are offering sponsors a range of benefits depending on the level of sponsorship involved.
Mr. Baker: To ask the Minister without Portfolio what ethical criteria he applies in selecting potential sponsors for the Millennium Dome. [49152]
Mr. Mandelson [holding answer 7 July 1998]: In identifying potential sponsors, the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) are determined to maintain the integrity of the project as the focus for the nation's millennium celebrations, and to ensure that any sponsorship arrangement does not diminish the inclusive nature of the Experience. These broad considerations underpin the Company's decisions in respect of its commercial income target.
Millennium Experience (Budget)
Mr. Mitchell:
To ask the Minister without Portfolio what is the current budget for each of the zones in the Millennium Experience. [45132]
27 Jul 1998 : Column: 83
Mr. Mandelson:
The budget for each zone is commercially confidential. To reveal it would damage the New Millennium Experience Company's (NMEC) negotiating position with designers, sponsors and contractors.
Mr. Spring:
To ask the Minister without Portfolio what plans he has to make a large-scale model of the figure in the New Millennium Experience logo. [45563]
Mr. Mandelson
[holding answer 15 June 1998]: The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) is currently considering this idea.
Mr. Ottaway:
To ask the Minister without Portfolio what contingency plans have been made to maintain the supply of power to the Millennium Dome in the event of a collapse of the power supply system. [46457]
Mr. Mandelson:
The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) has designed a degree of resilience into the supply to the Dome site and the site infrastructure such that minor power failures would not disrupt the running and operation of the Millennium Experience. In the event of a total and sustained power failure, the NMEC will be able to maintain safety systems.
Mr. Peter Ainsworth:
To ask the Minister without Portfolio (1) what will be inside the giant human figure in the Millennium Dome; [47278]
(3) if he will publish the tender document for the giant human figure in the Millennium Dome; [47281]
(4) if he will make a statement on the sex of the giant human figure in the Millennium Dome; [47282]
(5) which firms will be responsible for creating the giant human figure in the Millennium Dome; [47279]
(6) if he will make a statement on the proposals for a giant human figure in the Millennium Dome; [47283]
(7) how many giant human figures there will be in the Millennium Dome. [47276]
Mr. Mandelson:
[holding answer 23 June 1998]: In order to ensure adequate visitor flow, proposals for the Body Zone now involve two large human figures, one male and one female, brought together as a single structure. Visitors will be able to walk inside the figures and explore and experience the wonders of the human body: how it works, how it has developed; and what the future holds. The overall Body Zone will also address wider issues such as genetics, lifestyles, and medical discoveries.
The designers of the Zone are HP:ICM. The cost of the figures within the Body Zone is commercially confidential at this stage. To reveal it would damage the New Millennium Experience Company's (NMEC's) negotiating position with potential sponsors and
27 Jul 1998 : Column: 84
contractors. There will be a range of tenders for different works in all the exhibit zones such as heavy structural work, IT equipment, and sound and lighting systems.
Mr. Mitchell:
To ask the Minister without Portfolio what changes he has made to plans for the @ Now Zone since May 1997. [48826]
Mr. Mandelson:
Plans for all the exhibit zones within the Millennium Experience are a matter for the New Millennium Experience Company. The exhibits are the subject of ongoing development as part of an interactive creative process to ensure that come 31 December 1999 and throughout the year 2000, the Experience will excite, entertain and educate in a way which will be the envy of the world.
Mr. Mitchell:
To ask the Minister without Portfolio if the body deciding the contents of the @ Now Zone includes representatives from the Yorkshire and Humberside Region. [48831]
Mr. Mandelson:
The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) is responsible for deciding the content of all zones in close liaison with other relevant parties, including sponsors. The Company aims to ensure that views from across the country inform the development of the UK @ Now Zone.
Mr. Mitchell:
To ask the Minister without Portfolio who will provide the exhibits and plan the theme of the @ Now Zone. [48823]
Mr. Mandelson:
The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) is responsible for the delivery of each zone and has editorial control over the content, story line and theme of each exhibit, including the UK @ Now Zone.
Mr. Mitchell:
To ask the Minister without Portfolio if the @ Now Zone will include exhibits relating to regional cultural identities. [48832]
Mr. Mandelson:
The New Millennium Experience Company is currently considering the nature and scope of the exhibits within the UK @ Now Zone. Regional cultural identity is one of the many issues which the Company, with the sponsors and other relevant groups, will address in taking forward the development of the zone.
Mr. Mitchell:
To ask the Minister without Portfolio if sponsors in the @ Now Zone will be exclusively British. [48824]
Mr. Mandelson:
It is likely that the sponsors will be British based companies. As already announced, Marks and Spencer are part sponsoring this zone.
Mr. Mitchell:
To ask the Minister without Portfolio what will be the theme of the fourteenth zone of the Millennium Dome. [49178]
27 Jul 1998 : Column: 85
Mr. Mandelson:
The theme of the fourteenth zone will be "Mobility". This zone will examine how we will travel in the future, locally, nationally and internationally.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Minister without Portfolio, pursuant to his answer of 17 March 1998, Official Report, column 602, what special technical measures are being taken, at what extra cost, to ensure the proposed air-conditioning system for the Millennium Dome does not leak HFCs into the environment in excess of 1 per cent. [49240]
Mr. Mandelson
[holding answer 7 July 1998]: The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) will employ a number of methods and techniques in order to ensure that the target of less than 1 per cent. emission is met. These include regular inspections by technicians together with automated detection and alarm systems. All costs will be met from within the existing budget for the project.
(2) what is the estimated cost of the giant human figure in the Millennium Dome; [47277]
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