Written question asked by Brian Iddon (Labour) on Tuesday, 8 January 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 21 January 2002. It was answered by Baroness Jowell (Labour) on Monday, 21 January 2002 on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Dept for Culture Media and Sport

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, What proposals she has to increase Library use among low income and socially excluded groups. (Failed OPQ).

Answer: Dr. Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proposals she has to increase Library use among low income and socially excluded groups. [26192] Tessa Jowell: Policy guidance on the contribution that libraries can make to tackling social inclusion was issued in January last year in the document "Libraries, Museums, Galleries and Archives For All". Over the past two years, my Department has supported 49 library schemes which contribute to tackling social inclusion under the DCMS/Wolfson Public Libraries Challenge Fund. We are working with Resource (the Council for Museums, Libraries and Archives) to ensure that library services are made as widely available as possible to all sections of society. Through lottery funding, all public libraries will offer public internet access by December 2002.

Secondary information