Quango facing 71 questions on The Public

The quango accused of allowing controversial Black Country arts centre The Public to go £49 million over budget is facing 71 parliamentary questions about its role.

West Bromwich East MP Tom Watson is demanding answers on everything from the Arts Council's involvement in the planning of the venue, which has now cost £72m, to the costs of its current restructuring – its fourth in 10 years.

Mr Watson said he was angry that the Arts Council had not addressed his concerns over the redundancy package being paid to Arts Council England, West Midlands chief executive Sally Luton, who leaves in June 2010. She will receive about £211,000 made up of her salary for 18 months and a one-off pension lump sum of £90,000.

Earlier this month the Arts Council said all the funding decisions had been taken by other organisations, such as The Public founder Sylvia King's Jubilee Arts group.

The Arts Council was the biggest funder of The Public and paid £32million of taxpayers' money to get it open.

It recently handed Sandwell Council £3m to get the West Bromwich gallery open and running.

Mr Watson said: "The response the Arts Council gave last week misleads people in Sandwell about their involvement in The Public. They were involved in this from the start, and I am determined to get to the bottom of this."

Arts Council West Midlands spokeswoman Jo Forrest said the organisation was working through Mr Watson's questions.

Mr Watson's questions to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Ben Bradshaw include asking when responsibility for The Public was transferred from the Capital Projects Office at Arts Council England to Arts Council England West Midlands, and on how many occasions a representative of Arts Council England attended and sent apologies to a meeting of The Public's board from 2003 to 2006.

Tom Watson's questions:

Dept for Culture, Media and Sport

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions he has had on the future funding of Arts Council England; and if he will make a statement. (308354)

05/01/2010

Dept for Culture, Media and Sport

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will make it his policy to require Arts Council England to publish details of its pension deficit on an annual basis. (308355)

05/01/2010

Dept for Culture, Media and Sport

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent reports he has received on Arts Council England's pension fund deficit. (308358)

05/01/2010

Dept for Culture, Media and Sport

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 14 December 2009, Official Report, column 665W, on Arts Council England: finance, whether Arts Council England may (a) use proceeds from the National Lottery and (b) grant-in-aid funding from his Department to reduce its pension fund deficit; and if he will make a statement. (308368)

05/01/2010

Dept for Culture, Media and Sport

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will commission an inquiry into the value for money of the proposed restructuring of Arts Council England. (308543)

05/01/2010

Dept for Culture, Media and Sport

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will take steps to reduce the number of consultants engaged by Arts Council England. (308544)

05/01/2010

Dept for Culture, Media and Sport

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will publish the guidelines issued to Arts Council England staff who (a) accept secondary jobs and (b) hold contracts which provide a secondary income. (307888)

16/12/2009

Dept for Culture, Media and Sport

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what freedom of information requests have been received by Arts Council England in each of the last three years. (307889)

16/12/2009

Dept for Culture, Media and Sport

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, for what private members' clubs used by (a) staff and (b) board members of Arts Council England that organisation pays membership (i) subscription and (ii) part-subscription. (307890)

16/12/2009

Dept for Culture, Media and Sport

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what overseas conferences were attended by Arts Council England (a) staff and (b) board members in each of the last three years. (307891)

16/12/2009

Dept for Culture, Media and Sport

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will publish all reports produced for the Arts Council England board by Moss Cooper on The Public arts centre in West Bromwich. (307892)

16/12/2009

Dept for Culture, Media and Sport

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when responsibility for the Public Arts Centre in West Bromwich was transferred from the Capital Projects Office at Arts Council England to Arts Council England West Midlands. (307893)

16/12/2009

Dept for Culture, Media and Sport

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, on how many occasions a representative of Arts Council England (a) attended and (b) sent apologies to a meeting of the board of (i) The Public Building Limited, (ii) The Public Charity and (iii) the Building Sub-Committee of The Public Building Limited between 2003 and 2006. (307894)

16/12/2009

Dept for Culture, Media and Sport

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when Mr Julian Ravest of Robin and Gorringe was contracted to provide services in respect of Arts Council England's monitoring of the Public Arts building project in West Bromwich; and when that contract ended. (307895)

16/12/2009

Dept for Culture, Media and Sport

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will publish the reports produced by Robin And Gorringe for Arts Council England on The Public arts centre in West Bromwich. (307896)

16/12/2009

Dept for Culture, Media and Sport

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much was paid to Robin and Gorringe by Arts Council England in each year between 2002 and 2006. (307897)

16/12/2009

Dept for Culture, Media and Sport

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, on what dates meetings were held between Arts Council England and Advantage West Midlands to discuss The Public building in West Bromwich between 2003 and 2006. (307898)

16/12/2009

Dept for Culture, Media and Sport

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will publish all reports made to the Capital Projects Board of the Arts Council on the construction of The Public arts centre in West Bromwich between 1995 and 2006. (307899)

16/12/2009

Dept for Culture, Media and Sport

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will publish the minutes of all discussions the board of Arts Council England has had on The Public arts centre in West Bromwich. (307900)

16/12/2009

Dept for Culture, Media and Sport

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what consultants were contracted by Arts Council England in relation to The Public arts centre in West Bromwich. (307901)

16/12/2009

Dept for Culture, Media and Sport

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will publish all correspondence between Sylvia King of The Public arts centre and Sally Luton of Arts Council England between July 2005 and November 2006. (307902)

16/12/2009

Dept for Culture, Media and Sport

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will publish the reports produced by PriceWaterhouseCoopers on the funding of The Public arts centre in West Bromwich before The Public Building Limited went into adminstration. (307903)

16/12/2009

Dept for Culture, Media and Sport

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when Graham Devlin's term of employment at Arts Council England (a) commenced and (b) ended. (307904)

16/12/2009

Dept for Culture, Media and Sport

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, in which of the last 10 financial years Graham Devlin was employed as a consultant by Arts Council England. (307905)

16/12/2009

Dept for Culture, Media and Sport

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the date was of the first grant payment made to C/plex Limited by Arts Council England. (307906)

16/12/2009

Dept for Culture, Media and Sport

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will place in the Library a copy of the letter from Arts Council England to C/plex Limited on approval of the process of appointment of the architect to design The Public arts centre in West Bromwich. (307907)

16/12/2009

Dept for Culture, Media and Sport

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much has been spent on (a) furnishing and (b) decoration of the Office of the (i) Chief Executive and (ii) Chair of Arts Council England in each of the last three years. (307921)

16/12/2009

Dept for Culture, Media and Sport

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much has been spent on (a) maintenance and (b) redecoration by Arts Council England in each of its regional offices in each of the last three years. (307922)

16/12/2009

Dept for Culture, Media and Sport

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much has been spent on carpets by Arts Council England for its (a) head office and (b) regional offices in each of the last three years. (307923)

16/12/2009

Dept for Culture, Media and Sport

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many (a) desktop and (b) laptop computers have been lost by staff employed by Arts Council England in each of the last three years. (307924)

16/12/2009

Dept for Culture, Media and Sport

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many (a) desktop and (b) laptop computers have been purchased for use at Arts Council England's (i) head office and (ii) regional offices in each of the last three years. (307925)

16/12/2009

Dept for Culture, Media and Sport

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what hospitality was received by (a) senior managers and (b) board members of Arts Council England in each of the last three years. (307926)

16/12/2009

Dept for Culture, Media and Sport

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much was spent on (a) taxi, (b) bus and (c) train journeys undertaken by staff employed at Arts Council England's head office in each of the last three years. (307927)

16/12/2009

Dept for Culture, Media and Sport

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much Arts Council England spent on purchasing (a) newspapers and (b) magazines at its head office in each of the last three years. (307928)

16/12/2009

Dept for Culture, Media and Sport

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much external training provided to Arts Council England staff cost in each of the last three years. (307929)

16/12/2009

Dept for Culture, Media and Sport

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what (a) internal and (b) external training courses were undertaken by Arts Council England staff in each of the last three years. (307930)

16/12/2009

Dept for Culture, Media and Sport

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the (a) lowest and (b) highest level of salary is of those staff members working for Arts Council England whose primary role is liaising with the press. (307931)

16/12/2009

Dept for Culture, Media and Sport

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many press officers are employed by Arts Council England at (a) its head office and (b) each regional office. (307932)

16/12/2009

Dept for Culture, Media and Sport

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many working days have been lost at Arts Council England due to sickness in each of the last five years. (307933)

16/12/2009

Dept for Culture, Media and Sport

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many staff are employed by Arts Council England; and how many were employed at 1 April in each of the last five years. (307934)

16/12/2009

Dept for Culture, Media and Sport

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many domestic flights were taken by Arts Council England (a) staff and (b) board members in each of the last three years. (307935)

16/12/2009

Dept for Culture, Media and Sport

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much Arts Council England spent on overnight (a) accommodation and (b) expenses for (i) its staff and (ii) its board members in each of the last three years. (307936)

16/12/2009

Dept for Culture, Media and Sport

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much was spent by Arts Council England at its head office on (a) cut flowers and (b) pot plants in each of the last three years. (307937)

16/12/2009

Dept for Culture, Media and Sport

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much Arts Council England spent on car parking costs in each of the last three years. (307938)

16/12/2009

Dept for Culture, Media and Sport

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, who the members are of Arts Council England's audit committee. (307939)

16/12/2009

Dept for Culture, Media and Sport

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the addresses are of each property that Arts Council England (a) owns and (b) leases. (307942)

16/12/2009

Dept for Culture, Media and Sport

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will publish the equal opportunities policy of Arts Council England. (308032)

16/12/2009

Dept for Culture, Media and Sport

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will publish the hospitality guidelines issued to Arts Council England staff. (308033)

16/12/2009

Dept for Culture, Media and Sport

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many staff currently employed by Arts Council England have Transfer of Undertakings Protection of Employment agreements. (308034)

16/12/2009

Dept for Culture, Media and Sport

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will publish the standard redundancy agreements used by Arts Council England. (308035)

16/12/2009

Dept for Culture, Media and Sport

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will publish the standard contract used by Arts Council England for employing staff. (308036)

16/12/2009

Dept for Culture, Media and Sport

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many mobile telephone devices are used by Arts Council England where the cost of calls is (a) fully and (b) partially paid for by the organisation. (308037)

16/12/2009

Dept for Culture, Media and Sport

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many (a) white and (b) black and minority ethnic members of staff are employed by Arts Council England. (308038)

16/12/2009

Dept for Culture, Media and Sport

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will publish the policy used to guide board members of Arts Council England on what issues should be discussed in (a) public and (b) private. (308039)

16/12/2009

Dept for Culture, Media and Sport

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many (a) industrial and (b) employment tribunal cases have been taken out against Arts Council England in each of the last three years. (308040)

16/12/2009

Dept for Culture, Media and Sport

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, which solicitors' partnerships have been used by Arts Council England in each of the last three years. (308041)

16/12/2009

Dept for Culture, Media and Sport

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what catering facilities are provided for staff at Arts Council England's head office in London. (308042)

16/12/2009

Dept for Culture, Media and Sport

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many former Arts Council England national council members have subsequently been employed (a) by Arts Council England and (b) on projects that have received Arts Council England-approved funding in each of the last five years. (308043)

16/12/2009

Dept for Culture, Media and Sport

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the names and addresses are of the (a) accountancy firms and (b) auditors currently used by Arts Council England. (308044)

16/12/2009

Dept for Culture, Media and Sport

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the size in square feet is of the Arts Council England offices in Birmingham. (308045)

16/12/2009

Dept for Culture, Media and Sport

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the annual rental costs of the Arts Council England offices in Birmingham were in each of the last five years. (308046)

16/12/2009

Dept for Culture, Media and Sport

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, who the (a) internal and (b) external trustees are of Arts Council England's pension fund; and in which capacity each serves. (308047)

16/12/2009

Dept for Culture, Media and Sport

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, which trade unions are given facility agreements by Arts Council England; and if he will place in the Library a copy of each such agreements. (308048)

16/12/2009

Dept for Culture, Media and Sport

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, which job vacancies there were at Arts Council England as of 11 December 2009. (308049)

16/12/2009

Dept for Culture, Media and Sport

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, which council members of Arts Council England have served since January 2005. (308051)

16/12/2009

Dept for Culture, Media and Sport

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much Arts Council England has set aside for redundancy payments in respect of its proposed restructuring ; what proportion of this sum the organisation plans to spend on redundancy payments to employees in the West Midlands; and if he will make a statement. (307493)

14/12/2009

Dept for Culture, Media and Sport

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 30 November 2009, Official Report, column 374W, on Arts Council England: reorganisation, what the breakdown is of the expected efficiency savings of £6.5 million annually from 2010-11. (307583)

14/12/2009

Dept for Culture, Media and Sport

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many consultants Arts Council England has hired in each of the last five years; and at what cost in each of those years. (306830)

14/12/2009

Dept for Culture, Media and Sport

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what audits have been undertaken since 1994 on restructuring of Arts Council England. (307330)

14/12/2009

Dept for Culture, Media and Sport

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much Arts Council England has spent on advertising in each of the last five years. (307331)

14/12/2009

Dept for Culture, Media and Sport

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the cost to the public purse has been of each restructuring of Arts Council England in each year since 1994; and if he will make a statement. (301896)

26/11/2009