The Bookseller.com

2nd December 2008

Petition protests against PLR cuts

13.02.08 Alison Flood

More than 500 people have signed an online petition protesting against the cuts to Public Lending Right funding. The petition, which was put up by author John Malam on the government's petition website, calls on the Prime Minister to retain the current funding level for PLR over the next three years.

The PLR, which handles payouts to writers when their books are borrowed from public libraries, will receive £7.68m in 2007/08. In 2008/09 this will fall to £7.43m, in 2009/10 it will receive £7.58m, and in 2010/11 £7.68m.

Malam wrote: "A reduction in PLR funding will adversely affect the earnings of thousands of UK authors and illustrators. Many are self-employed, and in an industry as unpredictable as publishing, the annual PLR payment is a highly valued and reliable contribution to earnings. The Government is urged to retain the current funding level (2007/08) for PLR for each of the next three years. There should be no reduction in funding."

The cause will vie with other petitions, such as "Make Jeremy Clarkson Prime Minister". Malam's petition can be found at http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/plr-funding/.

Alison Flood PLR Public Lending Right

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