§ Mr. Peter Walkerasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many public libraries there are in England, Scotland and Wales.
§ Miss Margaret JacksonOn the latest available information the number is just under 12,000, including mobile libraries and service points in hospitals, old people's homes and other institutions.
§ Mr. Peter Walkerasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the number of people employed in public libraries in England, Scotland and Wales.
§ Miss Margaret JacksonThe number in 1975 was about 26,500.
§ Mr. Peter Walkerasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the amount of money spent on public libraries in England, Scotland and Wales in the last year for which figures are available; and how much of that money was provided by local authorities and how much from the rate support grant.
§ Miss Margaret JacksonEstimated total current expenditure on the public library service in England, Scotland and Wales in 1974–75 was about £129 million. No part of the rate support grant is specifically earmarked for expenditure on this service but in aggregate rate support grant amounted in 1974–75 to 60.5 per cent. of the total approved relevant expenditure for England and Wales.