Censure motion will only cloud the issues - German

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 5th Apr 2006

The Welsh Liberal Democrats will abstain in the vote to censure Culture Minister Alun Pugh in the Assembly today.

According to Mike German, the party's Assembly leader, censuring the Minister will not allow the Assembly, arts organisations and those concerned about his handling of language issues "to get the answers we all need."

Mr German vowed to use the Censure Motion debate as an opportunity to finally get answers from the Minister. He said:

"Not voting for the censure motion is not an endorsement of the Minister's performance. Far from it.

"He's bungled his handling of the arts council, sacking a popular and effective chair and failing to be open and transparent in appointing a new chair. He wants to bring the big six arts organisation in-house, yet also spread arts to more communities. He's also on course to leave the promotion and regulation of the Welsh language in limbo.

"Last year he wanted a bill to establish a regulator, and then he decided he didn't; now he says that we need one but he's in no rush. As it stands when the Language Board is abolished next year, there will be no statutory regulator to properly safeguard and promote the language.

"I will press the Minister on these issues today. I'm offering him the chance to give clear and proper answers. If he can't give those, then I'm afraid it will time for this bungling Minister to leave the stage.

"Bungle was the star of the children's' TV show Rainbow, but this Minister's promotion and commitment to the arts and culture should extend beyond 80s television programmes. His bungling style does nothing to inspire confidence; Bungle belongs with Zippy and George not as a Ministerial style. Alun Pugh must buck his game up and provide the answers we all need.

In addition to questions on the Welsh Language Mr German will press the Minister on his mysterious process of appointing a new chair of the Arts Council.

"Alun Pugh said was starting the process in January, in order to get a new chair by April 1st. He never got as far as finalising an advert for the post. The minister claims he could have completed an appointment process - advertise, sift applicants, shortlist, interview, appoint and have the successful candidate serve any notice period and take over in time for an overlap with the outgoing chair.

"He would have had to complete a process that can take six months in six weeks."