Asked by: Laura Kyrke-Smith (Labour - Aylesbury)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to protect library services in Aylesbury constituency.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
Public libraries are funded by local authorities and each local authority is responsible for assessing the needs of their local communities and designing a library service to meet those needs within available resources.
DCMS is aware of the current consultation on proposed changes to opening hours at a number of libraries in Buckinghamshire, including Aylesbury. DCMS officials have met with Buckinghamshire County Council officers to ensure that they are aware of the Council's statutory duty under the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964 to provide a comprehensive and efficient library service, and to advise officers on the Secretary of State's duty of superintendence, which includes the consideration of formal complaints that a library authority is not carrying out their duties under the 1964 Act.