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1717583

registered interest
date	13/05/2024
answering body	Department for Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	217
answering dept short name	Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	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 Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the sustainability of library services.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	25856
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2024 answer text <p>The Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964 requires all upper-tier local authorities to provide a comprehensive and efficient library service. It is for local authorities to identify the needs of local residents and to fund and provide a library service that meets those needs.</p><p>His Majesty’s Government has provided an additional £600 million on top of the £64 billion Local Government Finance Settlement for 2024-25 — an increase of 7.5% in cash terms. This uplift will help to reduce pressure on councils’ budgets, and protect services including public libraries.</p><p>We will be publishing a refreshed Government strategy for public libraries later this year, informed by the independent review of English public libraries conducted by Baroness Sanderson of Welton, which was published in January <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/an-independent-review-of-english-public-libraries-report-and-government-reponse" target="_blank">here</a>. The forthcoming strategy will set out our plans to ensure that people across the country can benefit from excellent library services, and HM Government will explore opportunities to increase library use and engagement in line with the recommendations made in Baroness Sanderson’s independent review.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 21/05/2024 12:52:14 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1716356

registered interest
date	08/05/2024
answering body	Department for Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	217
answering dept short name	Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	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 Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to help encourage visitors to libraries.
tabling member constituency	Bristol West
tabling member printed	Thangam Debbonaire
uin	25252
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/05/2024 answer text <p>We will be publishing a refreshed Government strategy for public libraries later this year, informed by the independent review of English public libraries conducted by Baroness Sanderson of Welton which engaged with a wide range of interested parties, including through the series of roundtable meetings she held across the country.</p><p>One of the recommendations of Baroness Sanderson’s review was that Libraries Week be moved from October, which often clashes with the party conference season, to a time in the year when MPs and peers can more easily engage with it and promote the work of libraries in their local area. We are delighted that, from this year, Libraries Week will take place at the end of June (this year, 24–30 June).</p><p>The forthcoming strategy will set out our plans to ensure that people across the country can benefit from excellent library services, and HM Government will explore opportunities to increase library use and engagement especially by children in line with Baroness Sanderson’s independent review recommendations.</p><p>In addition, the £20.5 million, DCMS-funded Libraries Improvement Fund is supporting public library services across England. The fund is supporting 95 projects to enable library services to upgrade their buildings and improve digital infrastructure, increasing their potential to develop more flexible spaces and improving digital access, thereby increasing library access and use.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 14/05/2024 16:20:37 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	4433 label Biography information for Thangam Debbonaire

1697567

registered interest
date	20/03/2024
answering body	Department for Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	217
answering dept short name	Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	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 Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to increase access to libraries.
tabling member constituency	York Central
tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
uin	19644
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/03/2024 answer text <p>We will be publishing a refreshed Government strategy for public libraries later this year. This will be informed by Baroness Sanderson’s independent review of English public libraries and will help ensure that people across the country can benefit from great public library services.</p><p>The DCMS-funded £20.5 million Libraries Improvement Fund (2021-2025) is supporting public library services in England. It is enabling them to upgrade their buildings and improve digital infrastructure, increasing their potential to develop more flexible spaces and improving digital access, thereby increasing library access and use.</p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 28/03/2024 16:33:55 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1685663

registered interest
date	29/01/2024
answering body	Department for Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	217
answering dept short name	Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	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 Culture, Media and Sport, how many libraries have opened in each year since 2015.
tabling member constituency	North Shropshire
tabling member printed	Helen Morgan
uin	11910
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/02/2024 answer text <p>Arts Council England collects data from local authorities and publishes a basic dataset of information on public libraries in England. The libraries basic dataset for 2022 shows the number of static libraries in England (statutory and non-statutory) from April 2010 to 31 December 2022 and includes information on permanent library closures, as well as new library openings. It can be found <a href="https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/supporting-arts-museums-and-libraries/supporting-libraries#:~:text=Basic%20Dataset%20for%20Libraries&amp;text=The%20Libraries%20Basic%20Dataset%20is,the%20number%20of%20mobile%20libraries" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez grouped question UIN 11909 question first answered 01/02/2024 17:28:10 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	4934 label Biography information for Helen Morgan

1679363

registered interest
date	05/01/2024
answering body	Department for Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	217
answering dept short name	Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	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 Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has taken steps to support local authorities to (a) maintain and (b) expand community libraries (i) nationally and (ii) in Romford constituency.
tabling member constituency	Romford
tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
uin	7820
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/01/2024 answer text <p>The Government is committed to supporting a sustainable long-term future for public libraries in England.</p><p>The Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964 requires all local authorities in England to provide a comprehensive and efficient library service. In considering how best to deliver this statutory duty, each local authority is responsible for determining local needs and delivering a modern and efficient library service that meets the requirements of their communities within available resources. Public libraries are funded by local authorities, not central government, and it is for each local authority to determine the model of delivery for its statutory library service.</p><p>The Arts Council England dataset for libraries indicates that as of 31 December 2022 the statutory library service in Havering consisted of 10 static libraries, all of which were local authority run.</p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 15/01/2024 09:37:54 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

1660855

registered interest
date	14/09/2023
answering body	Department for Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	217
answering dept short name	Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	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 Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate she has made of the number of libraries that were used as warm spaces in winter 2022-23.
tabling member constituency	Nottingham South
tabling member printed	Lilian Greenwood
uin	199580
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/09/2023 answer text <p>The delivery of public library services is a responsibility for upper-tier local authorities under the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964. It is for those authorities to determine provision based on local needs and priorities, including the use of libraries as warm hubs.</p><p>Last winter, a number of local authorities indicated that they intended to use public and community-managed buildings including libraries to provide additional support and advice to local residents following the rise in energy costs. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport engaged with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero to ensure that the Government’s Energy Bill Relief Scheme supported businesses and non-domestic customers such as libraries and other community spaces. Libraries and archives were also eligible to receive an enhanced level of support under the Energy Bills Discount Scheme.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Maldon answering member printed Sir John Whittingdale grouped question UIN 199581 question first answered 19/09/2023 16:55:47 answering member 39 label Biography information for Sir John Whittingdale
tabling member	4029 label Biography information for Lilian Greenwood

1660856

registered interest
date	14/09/2023
answering body	Department for Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	217
answering dept short name	Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	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 Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with Local Authorities on the use of libraries as warm spaces in winter 2023-24.
tabling member constituency	Nottingham South
tabling member printed	Lilian Greenwood
uin	199581
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/09/2023 answer text <p>The delivery of public library services is a responsibility for upper-tier local authorities under the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964. It is for those authorities to determine provision based on local needs and priorities, including the use of libraries as warm hubs.</p><p>Last winter, a number of local authorities indicated that they intended to use public and community-managed buildings including libraries to provide additional support and advice to local residents following the rise in energy costs. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport engaged with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero to ensure that the Government’s Energy Bill Relief Scheme supported businesses and non-domestic customers such as libraries and other community spaces. Libraries and archives were also eligible to receive an enhanced level of support under the Energy Bills Discount Scheme.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Maldon answering member printed Sir John Whittingdale grouped question UIN 199580 question first answered 19/09/2023 16:55:47 answering member 39 label Biography information for Sir John Whittingdale
tabling member	4029 label Biography information for Lilian Greenwood

1660857

registered interest
date	14/09/2023
answering body	Department for Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	217
answering dept short name	Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	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 Culture, Media and Sport, how many new public libraries have opened since 2010.
tabling member constituency	Nottingham South
tabling member printed	Lilian Greenwood
uin	199582
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/09/2023 answer text <p>This information is not collected by the department. However, Arts Council England collects data from local authorities and publishes a basic dataset of information on public libraries in England. The libraries basic dataset 2022 shows the number of static libraries in England (statutory and non-statutory) as at 1 April 2010, 1 July 2016, 31 December 2019, 31 December 2021 and 31 December 2022. It can be found <a href="https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/supporting-arts-museums-and-libraries/supporting-libraries#:~:text=Basic%20Dataset%20for%20Libraries&amp;text=The%20Libraries%20Basic%20Dataset%20is,the%20number%20of%20mobile%20libraries" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><p>This dataset indicates that there are around 150 static public libraries which were not part of statutory provision in 2010 but were at 31 December 2022.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Maldon answering member printed Sir John Whittingdale question first answered 29/09/2023 15:30:12 answering member 39 label Biography information for Sir John Whittingdale
tabling member	4029 label Biography information for Lilian Greenwood

1660862

registered interest
date	14/09/2023
answering body	Department for Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	217
answering dept short name	Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	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 Culture, Media and Sport, what information her Department holds on the number of public libraries that have reduced their opening (a) hours and (b) days in each year since 2010.
tabling member constituency	Nottingham South
tabling member printed	Lilian Greenwood
uin	199585
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/09/2023 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, which provides current, but not historical, information about opening hours.</p><p>The dataset can be found <a href="https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/supporting-arts-museums-and-libraries/supporting-libraries#:~:text=Basic%20Dataset%20for%20Libraries&amp;text=The%20Libraries%20Basic%20Dataset%20is,the%20number%20of%20mobile%20libraries" target="_blank">here</a>.</p> answering member constituency Maldon answering member printed Sir John Whittingdale question first answered 19/09/2023 16:55:16 answering member 39 label Biography information for Sir John Whittingdale
tabling member	4029 label Biography information for Lilian Greenwood

1660508

registered interest
date	13/09/2023
answering body	Department for Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	217
answering dept short name	Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	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 Culture, Media and Sport, when she plans to publish her Department's new public libraries strategy.
tabling member constituency	Nottingham South
tabling member printed	Lilian Greenwood
uin	199362
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/09/2023 answer text <p>HM Government is committed to supporting a sustainable future for public libraries in England, and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport is presently working on a new Government strategy for public libraries.</p><p>To inform this work, the Libraries Minister Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay appointed Baroness Sanderson of Welton last September to lead a review of public libraries and to make recommendations for the Government to consider for inclusion in its new public libraries strategy. Her report was developed through engagement with a diverse range of library services and other organisations with an interest in libraries, and involved nine roundtable meetings held across the country.</p><p>Baroness Sanderson submitted her report in July, and the Department is currently considering her recommendations. We plan to publish her report alongside the Government’s response this autumn. Her recommendations will inform the drafting of the new Government strategy, which we intend to publish in 2024, following consultation with the libraries sector.</p> answering member constituency Maldon answering member printed Sir John Whittingdale question first answered 29/09/2023 15:28:45 answering member 39 label Biography information for Sir John Whittingdale
tabling member	4029 label Biography information for Lilian Greenwood