Member

Operating costs are also a mystery. The Government have pledged free entry to the learning centre, provided, of course, that visitors book in advance online. Operating costs are estimated to have risen to £8 million a year, while the cost of security is a big unknown. The Government had hoped to make some money from the learning centre by opening it for conferences, even in the evening, but it would be a most unattractive site, open to the elements and risks of various sorts. Extra expenditure would be required to run it out of hours, not to mention disturbance to the neighbours. Can the Minister tell us about the operating costs and what plans there are to commercialise the space?