Ms Sheila Pratschke:

Yes, that is how we are dealing with that matter. More importantly, we will revisit all of the issues of conflict of interest with regard to the governance of the Arts Council and ensure that such an issue cannot arise again. The procedures are very strict. They have been developed and improved over a number of years. The panels are created by peers of the artists, so it is a delegated authority, not the Arts Council, which makes the decisions. The authority is delegated to independent panels and their recommendations are then approved by the council.

However, we will revisit all of this and go through it with a fine-tooth comb to ensure, hopefully, there can never be a recurrence of such an issue.