HC Deb 16 June 1981 vol 6 c341W
Mr. Jim Callaghan

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many public libraries there were in England and Wales in the years 1975 to 1979 and 1980.

1975–76 1967–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80
England 11,638 12,174 13,179 13,399 13,948
Wales 697 733 757 793 807

Ministerial responsibility in respect of public libraries in Wales rests with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

Mr. Jim Callaghan

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many people were employed in public libraries in England and Wales in the years 1975 to 1979 and 1980.

1975–76 1967–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80
England 20,317 20,720 20,658 20,842 21,001
Wales 1,267 1,184 1,190 1,179 1,171

Mr. Jim Callaghan

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the average number of books borrowed annually from public libraries in England and Wales in the years 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979 and 1980.

(THOUSANDS)
1975–76 1967–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 Average
England 532,760 526,624 537,118 542,741 554,078 538,664
Wales 27,249 28,276 28,887 28,081 28,704 28,239

Mr. Jim Callaghan

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the amount spent on public libraries in England and Wales in the years 1975 to 1980; and how much of that money was provided by local authorities and how much from the rate support grant.

1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 (£ million)
England 137.2 155.1 168.8 188.9 218.4
Wales 6.8 7.6 8.5 9.7 10.8

The rate support grant is not allocated to particular services; each authority deploys its income as it thinks fit.

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