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

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if he will make assessment of the effect of Somerset County Council's proposed changes to the Somerset library service on its statutory obligation to provide a comprehensive and efficient library service.

The Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964 requires all local authorities to provide a comprehensive and efficient library service. In considering how best to deliver this statutory duty, each local authority is responsible for determining, through consultation, the local needs to deliver a modern and efficient library service that meets the requirements of their communities within available resources.

Somerset County Council (SCC) is currently consulting on how their future library services could be delivered. A decision will be made by the Council on changes to the services when consultation feedback has been analysed. The Department will consider any representations that SCC is not delivering its statutory duty after the Council has made its decision.