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1581724

registered interest
date	30/01/2023
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Public Libraries
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the closing of the Libraries Taskforce in March 2020 on strategic planning for libraries.
tabling member constituency	Worsley and Eccles South
tabling member printed	Barbara Keeley
uin	135181
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/02/2023 answer text <p>While the taskforce formally ended on 31 March 2020, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport provided a further year of funding for the team based at Arts Council England to manage the ongoing work funded through it, to convene a core group of library stakeholders, and to assist in the delivery of in upcoming strategic development opportunities. (Arts Council England is the national development agency for public libraries in England.)</p><p>Local authorities have a statutory duty to provide a comprehensive and efficient library service and to think long-term and strategically as they plan and transform their library services. <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/libraries-deliver-ambition-for-public-libraries-in-england-2016-to-2021/libraries-deliver-ambition-for-public-libraries-in-england-2016-to-2021" target="_blank">Libraries Deliver: Ambition for Public Libraries in England 2016 to 2021</a>, together with other <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/longer-term-evidence-based-sustainable-planning-toolkit/longer-term-evidence-based-sustainable-planning-toolkit" target="_blank">strategic planning toolkits</a> previously published by the taskforce, remain relevant guidance documents to assist local authorities in delivering this duty.</p><p>In September 2022, the Government appointed Baroness Sanderson of Welton as chairman of a new advisory panel to help develop a new strategy to make sure that public libraries are providing the best possible service for their communities. More detail can be found <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/baroness-sanderson-to-help-develop-new-public-libraries-strategy" target="_blank">here</a>. To date she has had numerous meetings with organisations with an interest in public libraries work, and has led two roundtable sessions. The first, on 13 January in Nottinghamshire, focused on the contribution public libraries make to cultural and creative enrichment and the second, on 27 January in Suffolk, discussed their contribution to health and wellbeing. A further seven roundtables will be held between February and May, in libraries across England, each focusing on a specific theme, based on the seven Strategic Outcomes in Libraries Deliver: Ambition for Public Libraries in England 2016 to 2021, plus sessions on governance and innovation.</p> answering member constituency Pudsey answering member printed Stuart Andrew question first answered 03/02/2023 14:00:24 answering member 4032 label Biography information for Stuart Andrew
tabling member	1588 label Biography information for Baroness Keeley

1581725

registered interest
date	30/01/2023
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Public Libraries
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how many public libraries there were in England in each year since 2010.
tabling member constituency	Worsley and Eccles South
tabling member printed	Barbara Keeley
uin	135182
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/02/2023 answer text <p>This information is not collected by the Department. Arts Council England collects data from local authorities and publishes a basic dataset of information on public libraries in England. The libraries basic dataset 2021 shows the number of static libraries in England (statutory and non-statutory) as at 1 April 2010, 1 July 2016, 31 December 2019 and 31 December 2021. It can be found at: <a href="https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/search?query=basic+dataset&amp;sort_by=titles" target="_blank">https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/search?query=basic+dataset&amp;sort_by=titles</a></p><p>The libraries basic dataset 2022 will be published by Arts Council England later this year.</p><p>Annual library data are also collected by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) from local authorities across Great Britain and include the number of libraries (statutory and non-statutory). Access to these annual library data is available through subscription to CIPFA. The House of Commons Library subscribes to the CIPFA ‘stats+ public libraries statistics dashboard’ which includes figures for library service points.</p> answering member constituency Pudsey answering member printed Stuart Andrew question first answered 03/02/2023 14:01:55 answering member 4032 label Biography information for Stuart Andrew
tabling member	1588 label Biography information for Baroness Keeley

1581015

registered interest
date	26/01/2023
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Public Libraries
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent steps her Department has taken to help support public libraries.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Kemptown
tabling member printed	Lloyd Russell-Moyle
uin	903263
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/01/2023 answer text <p>The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport works closely with organisations across the sector to support and champion public libraries in England. Through the first round of the Libraries Improvement Fund, we are investing £5 million in 25 library services to upgrade their buildings and technology, equipping them to meet the changing needs of local communities. Decisions regarding the second round of the Fund – which will offer another £5 million of investment – will be made shortly.</p><p>Additionally, in September 2022 the Government appointed Baroness Sanderson of Welton as chairman of a new advisory panel to help develop a new strategy to make sure public libraries are providing the best possible service for their communities. More detail can be found <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/baroness-sanderson-to-help-develop-new-public-libraries-strategy" target="_blank">here</a>. To date she has had numerous meetings with organisations with an interest in public libraries’ work, and has led two roundtable sessions. The first on 13 January in Nottinghamshire focused on the contribution public libraries make to cultural and creative enrichment and the second on 27 January in Ipswich discussed their contribution to health and wellbeing. A further seven roundtables will be held between February and May, in libraries across England, each focusing on a specific theme, based on the seven Strategic Outcomes in the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/libraries-deliver-ambition-for-public-libraries-in-england-2016-to-2021/libraries-deliver-ambition-for-public-libraries-in-england-2016-to-2021" target="_blank">Libraries Deliver: Ambition for Public Libraries in England 2016 to 2021</a>, plus sessions on governance and innovation.</p> answering member constituency Pudsey answering member printed Stuart Andrew question first answered 30/01/2023 14:01:02 answering member 4032 label Biography information for Stuart Andrew
tabling member	4615 label Biography information for Lloyd Russell-Moyle

1452883

registered interest
date	21/03/2022
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Public Libraries
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to support local libraries.
tabling member constituency	Woking
tabling member printed	Mr Jonathan Lord
uin	143663
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/03/2022 answer text <p>On 12 March HM Government announced an investment of £5 million in 25 library services through the Libraries Improvement Fund (LIF) to upgrade their buildings and technology, and to enable them to be resilient and equipped to meet the needs of local communities. Details of the successful projects are published on the Arts Council England <a href="https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/publication/cultural-investment-fund-data" target="_blank">website</a>.</p><p>Through the Cultural Investment Fund the Government will invest up to a further £128.4 million of capital investment in innovative cultural and creative projects, libraries, and museums across the country over the Spending Review period (22/23 - 24/25).</p> answering member constituency Mid Worcestershire answering member printed Nigel Huddleston question first answered 30/03/2022 17:08:37 answering member 4407 label Biography information for Nigel Huddleston
tabling member	4090 label Biography information for Mr Jonathan Lord

1353908

registered interest
date	08/09/2021
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Public Libraries
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what data his Department holds on the number of books no longer required in public library collections that have been made available for sale to the public in each of the last five years.
tabling member constituency	Croydon North
tabling member printed	Steve Reed
uin	45133
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/09/2021 answer text <p>The government does not hold this information. The review and disposal of bookstock is the responsibility of each library authority and its individual libraries to determine.</p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 13/09/2021 07:50:24 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
tabling member	4268 label Biography information for Steve Reed

1285613

registered interest
date	10/02/2021
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Public Libraries
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what support the Government is providing to local authorities to help ensure libraries are accessible for (a) click and collect services and (b) information technology services for the most vulnerable and digitally excluded communities.
tabling member constituency	Brent Central
tabling member printed	Dawn Butler
uin	152423
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/02/2021 answer text <p>The COVID regulations allow public libraries in England during the current national restrictions to continue to provide physical library services including an “order and collect” provision, as well as access to public PCs for people to use essential services.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has worked closely with Libraries Connected to develop their toolkit which provides practical guidelines for heads of service and library staff to support the delivery of library services. The toolkit has helped the library sector navigate this difficult period and has been updated to reflect national and local restrictions.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The government exemptions enable public libraries to provide certain services, but do not compel them to do so. Whether library services can or will be provided in each area is for each local council to determine after undertaking appropriate risk assessments, involving staff and unions, looking at the safety of both users and people working in libraries.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 22/02/2021 09:38:33 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
tabling member	1489 label Biography information for Dawn Butler

1285342

registered interest
date	09/02/2021
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Public Libraries
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how many new libraries have been opened in the last five years.
tabling member constituency	South Holland and The Deepings
tabling member printed	Sir John Hayes
uin	151613
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/02/2021 answer text <p>The Libraries Taskforce published the 'Public libraries in England: extended dataset' on 11 January 2018 (<a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/public-libraries-in-england-basic-dataset#history" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/public-libraries-in-england-basic-dataset#history</a>) provides details of static libraries (statutory and non-statutory) in England as at 1 April 2010 and 1 July 2016, and includes information on permanent library closures, as well as new libraries opening.</p><p>Details relating to static libraries as at 31 December 2019 has been collected by Arts Council England and will be published shortly.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage grouped question UIN 151614 question first answered 17/02/2021 15:49:52 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
tabling member	350 label Biography information for Sir John Hayes

1170792

registered interest
date	14/01/2020
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Public Libraries
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to commission a review of the importance of access to public libraries in all parts of England, including consideration of the relationship between library access and (1) income, and (2) social class.
tabling member printed	Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
uin	HL386
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/01/2020 answer text <p>Libraries play an important role in giving everyone opportunities to improve their life chances and achieve their full potential. They serve a diverse range of people from all backgrounds and provide access to a variety of services. The regularly published Taking Part Survey provides details of the proportion of adults who have used a public library service at least once in the previous 12 months. This includes details of use by upper and lower socio-economic groups, as well as by index of multiple deprivation. The figures for 2018/19 indicate that 36.7% of respondents from the upper socio-economic group and 27.9% of respondents from the lower socio-economic group reported visiting a library in the last 12 months. We have no plans to conduct a review.</p> answering member printed Baroness Barran question first answered 22/01/2020 13:52:04 answering member 4703 label Biography information for Baroness Barran
tabling member	4282 label Biography information for Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth

1148309

registered interest
date	03/10/2019
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Public Libraries
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to promote libraries in the UK.
tabling member printed	Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
uin	HL18029
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/10/2019 answer text <p>It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.</p> answering member printed Baroness Barran question first answered 08/10/2019 16:31:54 answering member 4703 label Biography information for Baroness Barran
tabling member	4282 label Biography information for Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth

1123296

registered interest
date	25/04/2019
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Public Libraries
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what support they are giving to sustaining libraries in England.
tabling member printed	Lord Kennedy of Southwark
uin	HL15352
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/05/2019 answer text <p>Local authorities in England have a statutory duty to provide a comprehensive and efficient library service. It is for individual local authorities to decide how best to provide a public library service that meets local needs within their available resources. DCMS works across central and local government to encourage investment in libraries to ensure they can continue to support the delivery of local and national priorities and needs.</p><p> </p><p>The DCMS funded Libraries Taskforce was established, by DCMS and the Local Government Association, to devise and implement the “Libraries Deliver” strategy which helps support and reinvigorate the public library service in England. It works with sector partners to advocate for libraries and to share and promote good practice to help libraries better serve their communities.</p><p> </p><p>Arts Council England, the development agency for libraries, funded by DCMS, is providing total financial support of £1.6 million per annum to seven libraries’ organisations through its National Portfolio 2018 to 2022. DCMS has also provided direct funding support to library services in England, including a £2.6 million programme to support the installation or upgrade of wifi in public libraries in England, as well as £3.9m for the Libraries: Opportunities for Everyone fund, to support innovative library service activity to benefit disadvantaged people and places in England.</p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 09/05/2019 11:41:10 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	4153 label Biography information for Lord Kennedy of Southwark