§ Mr. BradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations his Department has made to Manchester City Council regarding the proposed closure of the Henry Watson Music Library. [109561]
§ Mr. Alan Howarth[holding answer 11 February 2000]: Officials in my Department at my request have been in contact with their opposite numbers at Manchester City Council to discuss their proposed reorganisation of the Central Library and its effect on the Henry Watson Music Library. No final decisions have been taken by the Council, but under the present proposals the Henry Watson collection would remain intact, and physical access to it would be improved.
The Henry Watson Music Library of course provides a service which is used extensively in the North West and other local authorities may wish to consider whether it would be appropriate for them to contribute to the costs of maintaining it as allowed by Section 9(1) of the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964.