§ Mr. WillisTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps he is taking to monitor the terms under which free connections to the Internet for public libraries are being made; and if he will make a statement. [72084]
§ Mr. Alan HowarthIt is for Library Authorities to negotiate the terms governing connection to the Internet.
§ Mr. WillisTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what is the average(a) capital and (b) running cost per link to the Internet for public libraries; and if he will estimate the range of such costs. [72082]
§ Mr. Alan HowarthThis is a matter for individual Library Authorities to determine following commercial negotiation.
§ Mr. WillisTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many and what percentage of public libraries have been connected to the Internet free of installation charge to date. [72086]
§ Mr. Alan HowarthA survey conducted in 1997 suggested that 5 per cent. of service points had public Internet access. Information on the costs of installation is not held centrally.
§ Mr. WillisTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the companies which have made connections to the Internet for public libraries free of installation charges; how many connections have been made in each case; and if he will publish the terms under which these connections have been made. [72085]
§ Mr. Alan HowarthThis information is not held centrally.