Written question asked by Mark Field (Conservative) on Monday, 13 February 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 15 February 2006. It was answered by David Lammy (Labour) on Thursday, 16 February 2006 on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Libraries

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps she is taking to assist local authorities in maintaining library assets.

Answer: Library assets are part of an authority's estate in the same way as any other council service. DCMS has no special funding available for maintaining such assets.Nevertheless, in recent years, around £130 million of Government PFI credits have been allocated to projects that are wholly or partly public library based. These will help to create assets of real community value.I also welcome the Big Lottery Fund's £80 million public library strand of its new community learning programme that will create new and improved libraries for local people to enjoy and to become involved with.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 442 c2199-200W;442 c2199-200W; 52126
Session: 2005-06
Subjects: Libraries Government assistance Local government Publications Public libraries
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk