Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will make representation to Lincolnshire County Council on its decision to invite volunteers to run some local libraries in Lincolnshire.

The Secretary of State for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport has a statutory duty under the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964 to superintend and promote the improvement of the public library service provided by local authorities in England. The Department is aware of the proposed changes to library service provision in Lincolnshire having received a number of representations from local residents. A legal challenge to the decision taken by Lincolnshire County Council to reconfigure its library services is to be considered by the High Court on 8/9 July and this Department will consider matters further in light of the outcome of the Judicial Review.