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

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions he has had with local authorities on changes in the level of availability of library services providing access to digital connectivity for those who do not have access to broadband at home.

This question was answered on 14th March 2016

My Department, together with the Local Government Association, has set up a Leadership for Libraries Taskforce to help public libraries in England build on good practice and add value for the communities they serve. Thanks to Government funding, 99% of public libraries in England will provide free access to Wi-Fi from May 2016.

DCMS has also engaged national Digital Engagement partnerships to help users get online; BT and Barclays have worked together to provide free Wi-Fi in 100 libraries and community centres in deprived areas across England; and Lloyds Banking Group and Halifax Community Bank have piloted a scheme to match local branch staff with libraries to deliver basic digital skills training to adults in the UK.