§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Minister for the Arts how many public libraries have been wholly or partially closed since 1978–79.
§ Mr. LuceThis information is not held centrally. Returns by local authorities in England to the Chartered institute of Public Finance and Accountancy over the period 1978–79 to 1987–88 are incomplete; statistics from the same 103 authorities in these two years show that the number of libraries within their responsibility fell from 4,124 to 3,922 but that the number of libraries open 10 hours a week or more has risen. The biggest reduction is in the "less than 10 hours a week" category, probably reflecting rationalisation and a conscious effort to make better use of resources. In the same period the total number of service points in these areas rose from 13,163 to 19,264.
Recent research suggests that in the three years to December 1989 more than 75 new library buildings or substantial extensions to existing premises were completed.