Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the appeals process for the funding decisions of Arts Council England.

Arts Council England has a complaints process for its funding streams. This is available on Arts Council England’s website.

Arts Council England will only reconsider a decision if it finds that a material mistake has been made. For example, an organisation (or individual) can use the complaints process if it believes that:

• Arts Council England has delayed, made mistakes or failed to follow its own processes;

• Arts Council England has failed to give an applicant access to information or has given an applicant incorrect advice or information;

• Arts Council England has not treated an applicant politely;

• Arts Council England has unlawfully discriminated against an applicant or not treated an applicant fairly.

Arts Council England uses the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman’s principles of good complaint handling. If a complainant is dissatisfied with a decision or the way a complaint has been, complainants can refer the complaint to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO). Funding decisions by Arts Council England can also be subject to Judicial Review.