School Libraries (Hansard, 23 March 1998)

§ Mr. Cann
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many individual schools library services have been discontinued in the last five years; and what local education authorities have been involved. [34563]

§ Ms Estelle Morris
The Department does not collect this information.

§ Mr. Cann
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to ensure minimum standards for school libraries in maintained schools in England and Wales. [34564]

§ Ms Estelle Morris
The Department has issued non-statutory guidance on the provision of teaching and non-teaching accommodation for schools. We believe that schools are themselves best placed to determine standards for their library services, taking into account their own priorities, needs and circumstances.

§ Mr. Cann
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to meet the National Library Association and the School Library Association to discuss school libraries in maintained schools in England and Wales. [34565]
53W

§ Ms Estelle Morris
We have no current plans to meet the Library Association and the School Library Association to discuss school libraries.

§ Mr. Cann
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will introduce legislation to make statutory provision for school library services in England and Wales. [34566]

§ Ms Estelle Morris
There are currently no plans to make the provision of schools library services a statutory duty.

§ Mr. Cann
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the implications for school libraries of financial delegation within the framework of LMS. [34567]

§ Mr. Byers
LMS delegation of funding for any service, including the school library service, is intended to allow schools to exercise a real choice in deciding upon their need for that service and the most appropriate supplier.

§ Mr. Cann
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what mechanisms his Department uses to monitor the library needs of maintained(a) primary and (b) secondary schools in England and Wales. [34568]

§ Ms Estelle Morris
Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools reports annually to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on standards and quality in education, including the quality and quantity of learning resources in schools.