MLA pledges 'orderly transition'

Chair of the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) Sir Andrew Motion and chief executive Roy Clare have pledged a "smooth and orderly transition" to continue to deliver the best future for institutions.

It was announced by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) that the quango is to be abolished.

In a joint statement, the two cultural leaders said: 'Stormy seas call for cool heads and steady hands.

'Now, faced with an unforeseen degree of economic pressure, government has chosen to balance the books and to prioritise the rationalisation of its existing cultural agencies as a contribution.'

Sir Motion and Mr Clare promised to support England's institutions by arguing for the services of the MLA to continue in new arrangements.

Mark Taylor, director of the Museum's Association supported this, saying: 'The challenge now is to retain as much as possible from the good that the MLA does and make sure that museums have their rightful place in the DCMS structure.'