Library Closures

Mr. Drew
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many libraries have (a) closed, (b) been scheduled for closure and (c) opened in each local authority in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Mr. Lammy
The table shows the change in the number of static public libraries in England, grouped into bands by opening hours, over the last five years and, for context, the comparable figures for 1997-98. The same information for each of the 149 library authorities in England can be found in the Public Library Statistics published by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy. Copies are held in the House of Commons Library.

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|Hours open per week|
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|                   |60+|45-59|30-44|10-29|<10|
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|1997-98            |6|449|1,279|1,323|157|
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|2000-01            |19|469|1,206|1,331|130|
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|2001-02            |28|493|1,199|1,311|115|
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|2002-03            |42|598|1,168|1,240|91|
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|2003-04            |51|683|1,143|1,186|80|
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|2004-05            |69|727|1,139|1,106|96|
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I welcome the opening of Gloucestershire county council's two new libraries in Dursley and Longstevens.