Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Baroness Miller of Hendon (Conservative). It was answered on Tuesday, 17 July 2007.

Millennium Dome

Question: My Lords, bearing in mind the reported overspend of £23 billion in the past 10 years on just a handful of projects, including the huge amounts that were wasted on failed IT projects and the recent chaos in the allocation of places for doctors, will the Government, who have been described as not being able to manage huge projects, in future consult those with a proven commercial track record instead of wasting so much on consultants?

Answer: My Lords, we had a debate about IT projects in which I was able to identify the many successes that the Government recorded as well as some weaknesses. The only common factors between those and the Millennium Dome are that they are large and public. The Dome was a unique development. We all know that there were lessons to be learnt from it. As I have indicated, not only have we learnt the lessons, but we intend to implement them with regard to the Olympic development.

Secondary information

Type: Oral question
Reference: 694 c129
Session: 2006-07
Oral question type: 1st Supplementary
Chamber / Committee: House of Lords chamber
Subjects: Consultants ICT Government departments Procurement Millennium dome
Link: View this Oral question on www.publications.parliament.uk