Dome proves to be a frustrating experience

The Select Committee investigating the Millennium Dome project at Greenwich grilled the board of the New Millennium Experience Company last week over the lack of available information about the Dome’s contents.

The frustrated politicians found themselves in a catch-22 situation. The only way to allay their fears over the Dome’s future was by showing them what would be in it. But to do that, said representatives of the New Millennium Experience Company, would have been “commercial suicide”.

The MPs asked NMEC’s board to simply describe the contents. Sir Michael Grade declined, however. “The only way to answer your question is to show you, in due course, what you will see.” There were audible sighs.

But much of the committee’s displeasure was incurred by the name of the event. None of them seemed quite sure what sort of “experience” to expect.

“Driving through London is an experience,” said MP Clare Ward. “But I wouldn’t recommend it.”