Libraries: Local Government Finance Settlement

Baroness McIntosh of Pickering Excerpts

Thursday 11th February 2016 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Neville-Rolfe]

The internet is absolutely vital, and obviously vital to these hubs which are bringing libraries and other services together. By May, 99% of libraries will have wi-fi for the customers to use, and 1,000 of the wi-fi connections have been provided through grants from the DCMS, for exactly the sort of reason that the right reverend Prelate articulated.

[Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Con)]

Will my noble friend thank all the volunteers in counties such as North Yorkshire and across rural England who are keeping local libraries open in exactly the way that the right reverend Prelate has suggested? What more can the Government do to encourage more local councils to train volunteers in this way?