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Vaizey: ‘inquiries can’t be called willy-nilly’
13.09.12 | Joshua Farrington
Culture secretary Ed Vaizey has said that inquiries into library closures cannot be called “willy-nilly”.
Speaking at a parliamentary debate held last night (12th September) to discuss Gloucestershire libraries, Vaizey expressed his favour for library volunteers and pointed out the rarity of inquiries from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport into library closures.
He said: “When one reads debates about the future of library services and calls for inquiries, one assumes that an inquiry is called every minute. In fact, the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964 has been on the statute book for almost half a century, and in that time only one inquiry has ever been called.” He added: “One cannot simply call an inquiry willy-nilly.”
Vaizey recently confirmed he was not intending to intervene over closures in Bolton, Lewisham and the Isle of Wight.
At the debate, Cheltenham Liberal Democrat MP Martin Horwood spoke out against closures in Gloucestershire, where campaign group the Friends of Gloucestershire Libraries is battling to save libraries. He said: “Libraries are community hubs and noticeboards, providing sources of information as well as pleasure and learning.
"They are vital in communities that face particular challenges, where free access to books is not some middle-class luxury, but an essential local service—and not simply access to books, but access to quiet work space, including for homework, when sometimes that is impossible to find at home.” However, the Conservative Gloucester MP Richard Graham described the complaints as “an artful and early kick-off to a Lib Dem county council election campaign”.
Vaizey conceded that: “it is genuinely the case that the position in Gloucestershire has been uncertain for some time”, but said he would have to wait for his officials to review the situation before the possibility of an inquiry.
Vaizey also referred to funding available to help library services from the Arts Council, which he described as being “responsible for superintending and promoting the library service”, despite the fact that the body has said those superintending responsibilities rest with the DCMS.
He ended the debate by saying: “I make no apology for the increase in volunteers in libraries. They make an enormous difference to the provision of library services.”
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"Willy nilly" ?
First Clown: 'Give me leave. Here lies the water; good: here stands the man; good; if the man go to this water, and drown himself, it is, will he, nill he, he goes.' (Hamlet).
Is this what Mr Vaizey wanted to convey ? Because users are aware that their library service is drowning, due to his inaction. That Shakespeare chose a clown to utter these words is a coincidence. We may decide for ourselves if it's apposite.
Research as to the origins of the phrase also reveals a connection between the phrases 'willy-nilly' and 'shilly-shally'. This is an interesting observation, given his Department's love of procrastination.
Mr Horwood's presentation shone last night. The statements by the Minister and his colleagues on the Tory bench did, by contrast, seem unconvincing, ill-prepared and - for those who watched on Parliament TV - the faces of the latter showed a most unpleasant mien.
Public Libraries are loved and valued. They and their staff are essential to the nation's literacy. Why has a Liberal Democrat MP no alternative but to secure a debate ? It does not show the DCMS (most of whom must have enjoyed a fine education) in a good light. Clowns ? willies, nillies ? - shillies and shallies ? : Not in a good light at all.
Vaizey claimed the delay in a minded to decision was because of a "call in" of Gloucestershire County Councils plans which meant the plans were not finalised until September. He mocked us for asking for an inquiry before this time. This was an untruth. The call in happened in April 2012. The plans ratified by the council before then. The Sec of State has had 4.5 months to act. If he is receiving inaccurate information from Vaizey and his advisers at the expense of our libraries then heads need to roll.
It is clearly a behind closed doors Tory policy to replace professional library staff with volunteers. For a statutory service this isn't acceptable. When Vaizey says he is guided by the advice of his officers when making decisions, if this were a transparent and open democracy (it is neither) then the advice would be published in full. I put in a FOI request for this advice but they have been obfuscating since March, see below. This is what happens when you get stupid people together in a room making up policies on the hoof. The big society failed to get the Tories a mandate in the election yet still they are forcing it down our throats despite it not saving money and no evidence that it provides a sustainable solution to a statutory service. The councillors who back this nonsense will pay next year and the MP's who don't oppose this will pay at the election in 2015, we must make sure of this.
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/exercise_fo_powers_under_the_196#i...
When a council has had its plans for the library service quashed by the High Court, and had those same plans described by the judge as both unlawful and "bad government"; when that same council refuses to send representatives to a public meeting to discuss its plans in light of the High Court ruling; and when less than 2 months later it produces plans that are remarkably similar to the unlawful ones and pushes them through; then it is clear that an inquiry is in order.
To suggest that anyone is asking for inquiries to be called 'willy-nilly' suggests either that Vaizey is a bit thick, or that he thinks the rest of us are.
As to this:
Vaizey conceded that: “it is genuinely the case that the position in Gloucestershire has been uncertain for some time”, but said he would have to wait for his officials to review the situation before the possibility of an inquiry
how long do they need? The court's judgement was 10 months ago; the "new" plans were released in January, and the service has been progressively hollowed out from the inside for years. Campaigners have been asking for ministerial intervention for well over a year and a half.
We're used to dissembling from politicians, but this is just contemptible.
it
It seems like the top of my previous comment has been cut off. So I have reposted.
"one assumes that an inquiry is called every minute" what a moronic statement when we all know the only one that has been called was the Wirral.
Vaizey proudly boasted about how he wrote to all authorities 2 years ago pointing them to the Wirral case. He thinks this was evidence of him doing his job. Since then several authorities, including Gloucestershire, have behaved even more recklessly then the Wirral in their cuts plans yet Vaizey ignores this. All he is doing in saying this is highlighting is incompetence and neglect further. He is suggesting that people are calling for inquiries on a whim but the fact is that Gloucestershire County Council was ruled to be guilty of bad government and a substantive breach of the law. To belittle our concerns like this is just further evidence that he has no intention of holding county councils who are failing in their duties to account and is unfit for office.
It was said during the debate "when Painswick library in Gloucestershire was closed several years ago I heard no calls for an inquiry then". This is willful ignorance. One library closure, whilst a serious loss for a community, cannot be compared to a massive 40% cut in a large county's library budget, a cut which was designed to take services away from the most disadvantaged.
it
It seems like the top of my previous comment has been cut off. So I have reposted.
"one assumes that an inquiry is called every minute" what a moronic statement when we all know the only one that has been called was the Wirral.
Vaizey proudly boasted about how he wrote to all authorities 2 years ago pointing them to the Wirral case. He thinks this was evidence of him doing his job. Since then several authorities, including Gloucestershire, have behaved even more recklessly then the Wirral in their cuts plans yet Vaizey ignores this. All he is doing in saying this is highlighting is incompetence and neglect further. He is suggesting that people are calling for inquiries on a whim but the fact is that Gloucestershire County Council was ruled to be guilty of bad government and a substantive breach of the law. To belittle our concerns like this is just further evidence that he has no intention of holding county councils who are failing in their duties to account and is unfit for office.
It was said during the debate "when Painswick library in Gloucestershire was closed several years ago I heard no calls for an inquiry then". This is willful ignorance. One library closure, whilst a serious loss for a community, cannot be compared to a massive 40% cut in a large county's library budget, a cut which was designed to take services away from the most disadvantaged.
When a council has had its plans for the library service quashed by the High Court, and had those same plans described by the judge as both unlawful and "bad government"; when that same council refuses to send representatives to a public meeting to discuss its plans in light of the High Court ruling; and when less than 2 months later it produces plans that are remarkably similar to the unlawful ones and pushes them through; then it is clear that an inquiry is in order.
To suggest that anyone is asking for inquiries to be called 'willy-nilly' suggests either that Vaizey is a bit thick, or that he thinks the rest of us are.
As to this:
Vaizey conceded that: “it is genuinely the case that the position in Gloucestershire has been uncertain for some time”, but said he would have to wait for his officials to review the situation before the possibility of an inquiry
how long do they need? The court's judgement was 10 months ago; the "new" plans were released in January, and the service has been progressively hollowed out from the inside for years. Campaigners have been asking for ministerial intervention for well over a year and a half.
We're used to dissembling from politicians, but this is just contemptible.
It is clearly a behind closed doors Tory policy to replace professional library staff with volunteers. For a statutory service this isn't acceptable. When Vaizey says he is guided by the advice of his officers when making decisions, if this were a transparent and open democracy (it is neither) then the advice would be published in full. I put in a FOI request for this advice but they have been obfuscating since March, see below. This is what happens when you get stupid people together in a room making up policies on the hoof. The big society failed to get the Tories a mandate in the election yet still they are forcing it down our throats despite it not saving money and no evidence that it provides a sustainable solution to a statutory service. The councillors who back this nonsense will pay next year and the MP's who don't oppose this will pay at the election in 2015, we must make sure of this.
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/exercise_fo_powers_under_the_196#i...
.
"Willy nilly" ?
First Clown: 'Give me leave. Here lies the water; good: here stands the man; good; if the man go to this water, and drown himself, it is, will he, nill he, he goes.' (Hamlet).
Is this what Mr Vaizey wanted to convey ? Because users are aware that their library service is drowning, due to his inaction. That Shakespeare chose a clown to utter these words is a coincidence. We may decide for ourselves if it's apposite.
Research as to the origins of the phrase also reveals a connection between the phrases 'willy-nilly' and 'shilly-shally'. This is an interesting observation, given his Department's love of procrastination.
Mr Horwood's presentation shone last night. The statements by the Minister and his colleagues on the Tory bench did, by contrast, seem unconvincing, ill-prepared and - for those who watched on Parliament TV - the faces of the latter showed a most unpleasant mien.
Public Libraries are loved and valued. They and their staff are essential to the nation's literacy. Why has a Liberal Democrat MP no alternative but to secure a debate ? It does not show the DCMS (most of whom must have enjoyed a fine education) in a good light. Clowns ? willies, nillies ? - shillies and shallies ? : Not in a good light at all.
Vaizey claimed the delay in a minded to decision was because of a "call in" of Gloucestershire County Councils plans which meant the plans were not finalised until September. He mocked us for asking for an inquiry before this time. This was an untruth. The call in happened in April 2012. The plans ratified by the council before then. The Sec of State has had 4.5 months to act. If he is receiving inaccurate information from Vaizey and his advisers at the expense of our libraries then heads need to roll.