HC Deb 25 February 2002 vol 380 cc706-7W
13. Mr. Miliband

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many public libraries are not on-line. [34241]

Dr. Howells

67 per cent. of all UK public libraries now offer public internet access. All will do so by the end of the year. £120 million of lottery money is being made available to equip libraries with ICT to support learning and to train library staff.

15. Helen Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps she is taking to improve public libraries; and if she will make a statement. [34243]

Dr. Howells

The Government have encouraged better planning and accountability in public library services through the introduction of Annual Library Plans and a more rigorous enforcement of the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964. Standards of service for library authorities were introduced from 1 April 2001.

Through the New Opportunities Fund Community Access to Lifelong Learning Programme, £120 million of lottery funding is being made available to enable all public libraries to offer public internet access and ICT learning facilities by December 2002. The DCMS/ Wolfson Public Libraries Challenge Fund made available over £2.3 million in 2000–01 for British history and reader development projects.

25. Norman Baker

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent assessment she has made of library provision within East Sussex. [34254]

Dr. Howells

East Sussex along with all other English library authorities submitted their Annual Library Plan at the end of September 2001. Individual and confidential feedback was given to each of the 149 library authorities in December, and a general appraisal of all the plans will be published in the near future. A copy of this appraisal will be placed in the House Library.