HC Deb 07 July 1980 vol 988 c27W
Mr. Alton

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in view of the lack of competition and inadequate coverage of affairs in the Merseyside region, he will exercise the discretion granted to him under section 22 of the Television Act to establish a separate television and broadcasting service for Merseyside.

Mr. Brittan

Neither the provision to which the hon. Member refers nor any

£ million
1978–79 (at out-turn prices) 1979–80 (at November 1978 prices)
Grant-in-aid to the British Library (1) 24.3 27.0
Local authority (England) expenditure on:
Public libraries 194.6 206.1
Museums and galleries 31.5

Notes:

(1) After adjustments to reflect delays in expenditure caused by general interruptions to government payment procedures in March 1979.

(2) A separate figure for libraries is not yet available.

Planned expenditure in respect of these services from 1980–81 to 1983–84, at November 1978 prices, is included in the relevant figures published in the White Paper on the Government's expenditure plans for these years (Cmnd. 7841). The figures shown there for planned local authority spending on arts and libraries are based on an assumption that expenditure in this field by local authorities in England will amount to £200 million in 1980–81, £189 million in 1981–82 and £185 million in each of the following years.