Department for Culture, Media and Sport written question – answered at on 20 July 2026.
Edward Morello
Liberal Democrat, West Dorset
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to support libraries operating in listed buildings.
Ian Murray
The Minister of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Each local authority is responsible for assessing the needs of their local communities and designing a library service, including locations and buildings, to meet those needs within their available resources.
Core funding for libraries is through the Local Government Finance Settlement. In 2026-27 the government will make available £78 billion in Core Spending Power for local authorities in England, a 6.1% increase compared to 2025-26.
Some listed buildings housing libraries may be able to benefit from the Department’s Heritage at Risk Capital Fund, operated by Historic England, which provides grants of up to £1 million to individuals and organisations legally responsible for conserving listed landmarks and has a budget of up to £60 million over the next four years.
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Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
