To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport

(1) what steps she is taking to support the continued operation of libraries in deprived areas; and whether the degree of social deprivation in an area for which library closures are proposed is given weight in deciding whether to launch an inquiry into the closures;

(2) what steps she is taking to ensure the survival of branch libraries in areas of deprivation that face closure.

Responsibility and accountability for individual library services is vested in local authorities. Authorities must be able to show that they have discharged their statutory duty to understand the local needs for library services in their area and to provide a comprehensive and efficient library service to meet those needs. DCMS continues to monitor and assess proposals and decisions being made about changes to library services across England.