Sandwell MP wins inquiry into The Public overspend

The truth about how controversial Black Country arts centre The Public was allowed to go £49 million over budget could finally emerge in a parliamentary inquiry.

Sandwell MP Tom Watson has won his bid to hold and inquiry into how arts and heritage in Britain are funded. The Department of Culture Media and Sport Select Committee will meet in the autumn and Mr Watson has pledged to raise the issue of The Public - which has now cost £72m - and calls for answers from the Arts Council.

The Arts Council has never fully explained its role in the West Bromwich venue which went into administration in 2006 and had to be rescued and taken over by Sandwell Council.

Mr Watson tabled more than 150 questions in the House of Commons about the Arts Council.

He was spurred into action after learning that the organisation's chief executive in the West Midlands Sally Luton was paid £211,000 after being made redundant. Staff who worked at The Public including Sylvia King, who had the original vision for the venue, were all forced out when the project folded.

The Arts Council continued to pour money into the scheme despite architect Will Alsop's company having gone into administration in 2004 but has since distanced itself from The Public.

It has spent £32m on the New Street gallery.

Mr Watson, MP for West Bromwich East, said today: "This is the chance for me to get the answers to questions people in West Bromwich have about The Public and how it was able to cost such a scandalous amount.

"The Arts Council is a top heavy, publicly funded organisation spending money on bureaucracy when it should be putting arts into the hands of the public.

"It has paid out £578,164 in bonuses over three years. Well I think it's about time this organisation is made to account to the people who have been paying for it."

Anyone who wants Mr Watson to ask a particular question about The Public can send him a message through his website www.tom-watson.co.uk

By Daniel Wainwright