Critical Literature Wales report 'inaccurate', says chairman

A report which criticised Literature Wales was " inaccurate and ill-informed", its chairman has said.

A Welsh Government-commissioned panel described the body as "lacking skills and experience" to spend public money.

It led to Economy Secretary Ken Skates announcing some of its responsibilities would be transferred to the Welsh Books Council.

But chairman Damian Walford Davies has issued a strongly-worded statement rebuffing the report.

He described the analysis as "hostile", "under-researched" and "strewn with errors".

"As chair, I refute in the strongest possible terms the panel's misinformed depiction of Literature Wales - something that should be of acute concern to the sector as a whole," he said.

"I have full confidence in my dynamic and diverse board of directors and in the excellent and dedicated team of expert staff who share my own vision of literature as a multi-form force for individual imaginative growth and social change.

"Through literature, and a democratised conception of who has the power and ability to 'write', Literature Wales will continue to engage and empower the many, rather than servicing the few.

"Literature Wales looks forward to continuing its ongoing dialogue with the sector and the Welsh Government in the light of the above."

A spokeswoman for the Welsh Government said it would be working with the relevant organisations to take Mr Skates' recommendations forward.

"The Welsh Government is grateful to Literature Wales, the Arts Council of Wales and the Welsh Books Council for the constructive dialogue it has had so far," the spokeswoman said.

"There is much work to be done to implement the vision of better support for publishing and literature and the Welsh Government will work closely with all of the key stakeholder organisations in making that possible.

"The Welsh Government will formally respond to the report in due course."