§ Sir J. NALLasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the sum of £1,649 12s. 11d., recorded as being the gross cost of the Report on Public Libraries, Command Paper 2826, includes the whole cost of Departmental and other staffs and their accommodation engaged in the compilation of the voluminous matter and elaborate statistical tables included in the Report; whether local authorities were required to supply any of the detail and if any contribution was paid in aid of the local staffs required for the purpose; and if he can say to what extent the Department or the general public are expected to use the Report or its statistics?
§ Lord E. PERCYI have been asked to reply. The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Local library authorities were requested by the Committee to supply information, but I am not aware that the collection of that information in any instance necessitated expenditure on any addition to the ordinary library staff. I have no doubt that the Report will be of great use, both to my Department and to all who take an interest in the improvement of the public library service, and I agree with the Committee in thinking that the statistics which they have prepared will be of great value as providing a sound basis for estimating the position, progress and needs of libraries of all kinds.