§ Lord Juddasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have analysed the findings of the report Public Libraries and their Book Funds by the National Book Committee; if so, what are their conclusions, and what action they will take to reverse the reduction of new book stocks.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of National Heritage (Viscount Astor)We are currently reviewing the findings of the National Book Committee reportPublic Libraries and their Book Funds, which has recently been received in the 16WA department. More generally, my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for National Heritage continues to monitor the provision of public library services in England, including book expenditure, by analysing statistics and by investigating complaints; and the department is prepared to intervene directly where there is doubt about an authority's ability or willingness to fulfil its statutory obligations under the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964.