In 2010, the Government announced its intention to abolish the Registrar of the Public Lending Right and to transfer its statutory responsibilities for administering the public lending right scheme to another publicly-funded body, unspecified at the time, through the Public Bodies Bill. The public lending right (PLR) is the right of authors to receive an annual payment for loans of their printed2 books by public libraries. It was resoundingly clear from the public consultation that there was overwhelming opposition to the Government"s proposal. The Committee believes that the British Library is not a suitable host organisation for the PLR function given its many responsibilities and the risk that these could take priority over the PLR function. The success of the Registrar of the Public Lending Right is due to it being a small, discrete body whose purpose is focused on the authors and the rightholders which it supports. Much of its success must be attributable to the PLR workforce in Stockton-on-Tees and the way they have been led by the Registrar. Introducing a remote management structure from the British Library"s base in Boston Spa could jeopardise this success. Additionally, given that the scope for further efficiency, effectiveness and economy is limited, there is not a strong case for transferring responsibility of this PLR function to the British Library. Accordingly, the Committee concludes that the Government should not proceed with this draft order