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

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made with Cabinet colleagues of the potential impact of closures of (a) libraries and (b) other cultural spaces on the availability of early years services.

Local authorities have a statutory duty to provide a comprehensive and efficient library service.

Public libraries significantly contribute to early childhood development by offering a variety of events like storytimes, rhymetimes, and craft sessions. These activities, along with access to a diverse collection of reading materials for all ages, are crucial for enhancing speech, development, and social skills in young children.

Where local authorities are proposing changes to their statutory library service, including closures, DCMS expects the local authority to be able to demonstrate that proposals are supported by an assessment of local needs, together with a rigorous analysis and assessment of the potential impact of their proposals and a demonstration of the steps to be taken to mitigate the impact.

The Secretary of State has a statutory power to intervene by way of local inquiry if she considers that a local authority is not providing a comprehensive and efficient library service. She takes this role very seriously and should a complaint be received, Ministers will challenge the local council and carefully consider evidence before deciding if a local inquiry is needed.

Arts and culture should reach all children and young people and connect with them in a unique way - and this government is committed to ensuring that the Arts can continue to provide opportunities for children up and down the country. Seventy-nine percent of Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisations, which includes theatres, museums and galleries, work with children and young people.

The Family Hubs and Start for Life programme provides access to joined up early years support and family services, with over 500 hubs now open across the country. Local authorities should consider existing infrastructure and local need when deciding where to locate services. Libraries and community spaces can, and often do, form part of family hub networks.