RESPONDING to the Heritage Minister's statement on the Wales Millennium Centre this morning, Shadow Culture Minister Paul Davies AM said:

"We welcome this statement on the future of the WMC today.

"It is reassuring that the Assembly Government has accepted all of the recommendations made in the Audit Committee's Report.

"It was made clear in the Auditor General's report last year that the Assembly Government failed to monitor the financial situation at the WMC after the building was complete.

"It is encouraging that the Assembly Government has already taken steps to rectify this and recognises that the Arts Council would be better placed to take over responsibility for funding and monitoring the WMC.

"It is vital that when large sums of public money are involved in funding projects, the process is transparent and handled and scrutinised by experts."