Asked by: Lord Mawson (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the appropriateness of the provision of library services in a digital age.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
The Libraries Taskforce, jointly established by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and the Local Government Association, published Libraries Deliver: Ambition for Public Libraries in England 2016-2021 in December 2016. This strategy sets out 7 strategic Outcomes that libraries support, one of which is increasing digital access and literacy, and it highlights a range of initiatives through which libraries support digital skills, access, skills and related work. This document was produced following extensive consultation with the sector and stakeholders. The UK Digital Strategy also underlined the importance of libraries as a ‘go to provider’ for digital skills training.
Asked by: Lord Mawson (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
Her Majesty's Government what (1) research they have commissioned, and (2) consultation they have undertaken, in relation to the role of library services in a digital age.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
The Libraries Taskforce, jointly established by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and the Local Government Association, published Libraries Deliver: Ambition for Public Libraries in England 2016-2021 in December 2016. This strategy sets out 7 strategic Outcomes that libraries support, one of which is increasing digital access and literacy, and it highlights a range of initiatives through which libraries support digital skills, access, skills and related work. This document was produced following extensive consultation with the sector and stakeholders. The UK Digital Strategy also underlined the importance of libraries as a ‘go to provider’ for digital skills training.
Asked by: Lord Mawson (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
Her Majesty's Government what direct investment they made into library services in 2016–17.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport invested £4 million in 2016-17 in the Arts Council managed Libraries: Opportunities for Everyone innovation fund. This supports innovative public library service projects that benefit disadvantaged people and places in England.
DCMS also invested in dedicated support for library services exploring an alternative delivery model (such as a public service mutual). This involved commissioning a consortium of existing library mutuals to produce a toolkit for the Libraries Taskforce on Alternative Delivery Models; running two Masterclasses (one in London and one in York); and providing grants to support library services undertaking detailed options appraisals through access to specialist technical advice.
Asked by: Lord Mawson (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their estimate of the date by which every house in the country, including in rural areas, will have access to superfast broadband.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
The Government has committed to making superfast broadband available to 95% of UK premises by the end of 2017. The Government is also funding a number of pilot projects looking at alternative approaches to delivering superfast broadband beyond 95%.