§ 101. Mr. BaldryTo ask the Minister for the Arts what plans he has to introduce charges for services at libraries.
§ Mr. LuceThe Government remain committed to the free basic public library service to individuals. But the enabling power referred to by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment on 22 July, at column 275, if passed by Parliament, could be used to give new opportunities to help public libraries grow by allowing them to charge for a range of specialised services, perhaps in partnership with the private sector. I propose to issue a consultation document in order to gather views on this.