Extension to PLR suspended until Autumn spending review

The Government has announced that the Libraries Modernisation Review has been suspended as part of drive to achieve savings of £11.5bn. However, the Government has also announced that the extension of the Public Lending Right to non print format books has not been cancelled and will be considered as part of the spending review in the autumn.

The Government has described the Modernisation Review as “an unnecessary central initiative” and has instead placed emphasis on giving as much freedom as possible to local authorities.

The extension of Public Lending Right forms part of the Digital Economy Act which received Royal Assent during the wash-up period of legislation proposed by the previous Government. ALCS, through the All Party Writers Group of Parliamentarians, looks forward to discussing the extension of PLR with Government Ministers in the run up to the spending review in the autumn, and will be lobbying hard to try and ensure that writers receive adequate remuneration for their work.

Announcing the cuts, the Chief Secretary of the Treasury, Liberal Democrat Danny Alexander, told the House of Commons “We have also found another spending black-hole in the previous government's plans - projects had been approved with no money in place to pay for them.” Some of the other projects axed include the construction of a Stonehenge Visitors Centre, a loan to Sheffield Forgemasters International Limited, and a two-year Jobseeker’s guarantee.

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