The public will continue to pay the bill to maintain the Millennium Dome for three years after the development is taken over by the private sector.

Lord Rooker, the minister for the Dome, told the Liberal Democrats in a written answer that maintenance contractors will be paid £250,0000 a month for a whole year after private developers buy the site.

The government will also pay out "reduced costs" to maintain the Dome for a further two years while construction of a proposed new sports and music arena gets under way.