§ Mr. SteinbergTo ask the Minister for the Arts what was the number of public libraries and branch libraries in operation in the United Kingdom for each year since 1981; and if he will list the number of persons borrowing from them for each since 1981.
§ Mr. RentonStatistics about the public library service are collected and published by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy. They do not include information about the number of borrowers but show the following numbers of central, branch and mobile libraries:
Year (at 31March) Number of returning library authorities1 Number of libraries 1981 160 5,451 1982 163 5,456 1983 164 5,444 1984 164 5,395 1985 158 5,295 1986 162 5,364 1987 155 5,174 1988 161 5,457 1989 164 5,325 1990 166 5,587 1 Not all library authorities make a statistical return each year. Figures for England include information received direct by the Office of Arts and Libraries from authorities.