§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list the five local authorities which spend(a) most and (b) least per head of population on library book provision; for the year 199293, together with the sums they spent; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. SproatThe five local authorities in England spending the most per head of population on library book provision in 1992–93 were (source CIPFA)
City of London (£129.54), Westminster (£4.34), Lambeth (£3.75), Llanelli (£3.35) and Kingston-Upon-Thames (£3.21).The five spending least were:
Sheffield (£0.89), Bamsley (£0.87), Hillingdon (£0.78), Wakefield (£0.72) and Brent (£0.34).
§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is the projected average expenditure for library books per head of population for(a) the United Kingdom as a whole, (b) the English counties, (c) the metropolitan districts and (d) the London boroughs for 1995–96; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. SproatNo figures for projected expenditure on library books are yet available for 1995–96.
§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what was the spending on library books per head of population, measured by the book index(a) in 1981–84 and (b) in 1992–93; and what steps he is taking to increase current expenditure.
§ Mr. SproatSpending per head of population, as measured by the book index used in the national book committee report, was:
607W
- (a) £1.058 in 1981–84; and
- (b) £1.849 in 1992–93
§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what response he has made to the 12th annual report of the national book committee, a copy of which has been sent to him.
§ Mr. SproatWe are currently reviewing the findings of the national book committee report "Public Libraries and their Book Funds".
More generally, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for National Heritage continues to monitor the provision of public library services in England, including book expenditure, by analysing statistics and by investigating complaints; and the Department is prepared to intervene directly where there is doubt about an authority's ability or willingness to fulfil its statutory obligations under the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964.