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Mrs. Fyfe
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make it his policy that public libraries will remain in the public sector. [34859]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
My right hon. Friend has no plans to change local authorities' statutory duty to secure the provision of adequate library facilities for all persons resident in their area. The report on the scope for contracting out in the public library service prepared for the Government by the consultants KPMG and CPI is being published today and the Scottish Office Education Department will consult local authorities and interested bodies about it.