To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what information his Department holds on the number of local authority libraries where (a) closure and (b) a reduction in opening hours is proposed.

Local authorities are not obliged to consult the Secretary of State about plans for their library service. In addition to information provided directly to the Department by a small number of authorities we continue to monitor proposals being made about changes to library services across England through coverage in the media, information from the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council and incoming correspondence.