HC Deb 10 July 1970 vol 803 cc105-6W
Mr. Hooson

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if it is her policy to implement the Public Libraries and Museums Act, 1964 in the near future.

Mrs. Thatcher

In large part the Act has already been implemented. No initiative is however contemplated on Section 3 relating to Regional Councils for inter-library co-operation or on Section 6 relating to the powers of non-county boroughs and urban districts, pending the development of the Government's plans for local government organisation.

Mr. Hooson

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many non-county and urban district councils of less than 40,000 population which were library authorities before the commencement of the Public Libraries and Museums Act, 1964 have since relinquished their power for library purposes to county councils.

Mrs. Thatcher

Twenty, of which five were non-county boroughs and fifteen urban district councils.