HC Deb 11 December 2000 vol 359 cc36-7W
Ms Ryan

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps he is taking to improve accessibility to public libraries. [141881]

Mr. Alan Howarth

Last year I published a policy document, "Libraries for All", which identified what public libraries can do to help combat social exclusion and improve their accessibility to everyone in the community. I intend to publish a revised policy statement together with an action plan very soon and I shall also be introducing public library standards next year which will deal with all aspects of library services including access.