Mr. Andy StewartTo ask the Minister for the Arts what awards he intends to make under the public library development incentive scheme.
§ Mr. LuceI am pleased to announce that I am awarding £243,500 under the public library development incentive Scheme to Berkshire, Cleveland, Devonshire, Gateshead, Leicestershire and Sheffield library authorities, and to two regional library co-operatives: the London and southeastern library region and the northern regional library system. These are the first awards made under the scheme which I set up last December to encourage new enterprises, designed to extend or improve the public library service in England. The award will cover 40 per cent. of the costs of the enterprises and are conditional on the authorities providing the remainder.