HC Deb 05 December 1983 vol 50 cc4-5W
Mr. Fisher

asked the Under-Secretary of State answering in respect of the Arts by how much actual expenditure on books by public libraries has declined in real terms in each of the last five years (a) nationally, (b) in shire counties and (c) in London boroughs.

Mr. Waldegrave

Figures for actual expenditure on all elements of public library expenditure are collected by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy and published in its "Public Library Statistics" series, which is available in the Library of the House. There is no agreed index of public library book prices, which would be needed to convert the expenditure data to real terms, but the published figures show the total number of volumes purchased by each authority.

Mr. Fisher

asked the Under Secretary of State answering in respect of the Arts how many books were loaned by public libraries in each of the past 10 years.

Mr. Waldegrave

Information about public library lending is collected annually by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, and published in its "Public Library Statistics" series, which is available in the Library of the House. Comparisons between years may be affected by the different numbers of authorities responding to the CIPFA survey.

Mr. Fisher

asked the Under-Secretary of State answering in respect of the Arts what percentage of total expenditure is made by public libraries on (a) books, (b) other resources, (c) administration and (d) librarians.

Mr. Waldegrave

Detailed information about the various elements of local library expenditure is collected annually by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, and published in its "Public Library Statistics" series which is available in the Library of the House. The 1983–84 Estimates volume shows the proportions of estimated expenditure attributed to various components.

Mr. Fisher

asked the Under-Secretary of State answering in respect of the Arts how many public libraries have installed Prestel; and what percentage of public libraries this represents.

Mr. Waldegrave

This information is not centrally available.

Mr. Fisher

asked the Under-Secretary of State answering in respect of the Arts at what level is the national book stock.

Mr. Waldegrave

On the latest date for which figures are available, local public libraries in England had bookstocks totalling over 110 million volumes, and the British Library some 13 million volumes.

Mr. Fisher

asked the Under-Secretary of State answering in respect of the Arts how many professional staff are employed in public libraries; and how this compares with each of the past 10 years.

Mr. Waldegrave

Numbers of professional staff employed in public libraries are collected annually by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy and published in its "Public Library Statistics" series, which is available in the Library of the House. Comparisons between years may be affected by the different numbers of authorities responding to the CIPFA survey.

Mr. Fisher

asked the Under-Secretary of State answering in respect of the Arts what has been the expenditure on public libraries in each of the past 10 years.

Mr. Waldegrave

Current and capital expenditure on public library services in England over the relevant period was as follows:

Year £ million
1973–74 87
1974–75 114
1975–76 141
1976–77 154
1977–78 166
1978–79 183
1979–80 214
1980–81 256
1981–82 278
1982–83 *326
* Estimated Outturn.

Mr. Fisher

asked the Under-Secretary of State answering in respect of the Arts what demand he anticipates for trained public librarians in the next five years.

Mr. Waldegrave

Public librarians are employed by local library authorities. Information about authorities' plans for employment in future years is not centrally collected.

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