HC Deb 11 July 1963 vol 680 cc1396-7
18. Mrs. White

asked the Minister of Education what action has been taken on the Bourdillon Report on Standards in the Public Library Service.

Sir E. Boyle

I have sent copies of this Report to all public library authorities, the local authority associations and other bodies concerned with libraries. Most of the conclusions and recommendations in it are the direct concern of the authorities themselves, and as I said in my foreword, the Report provides a guide by which they can measure the efficiency of their libraries. It will also help me to discharge my responsibilities under the new legislation which, as I told the House on 10th May, I intend to introduce as soon as time can be found for it.

Mrs. White

Will the Minister take a really active step forwardin this? Is he not aware that without legislation it is impossible for him to ensure that librarians in this country have a fair deal or have the national gradings for salary scales which were strongly recommended in the last two Committee reports? May we have an assurance that this legislation will be introduced in the next Session?

Sir E. Boyle

I cannot give an assurance about that. The hon. Lady knows the difficulties in this House about time for Measures of considerable length. I think that the publication of the Report has led many authorities to review the quality of their services, but I accept that I should not be backward in pressing for time for this important Measure.