The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has laid a further variation to the Public Lending Right Scheme 1982. The Public Lending Right Scheme 1982 (Commencement of Variation) Order 2026 (S.I. 2026/8) sets the “rate per loan” at 12.40p, replacing 11.76p. The Order was made on 6 January 2026, laid before Parliament on 8 January, and comes into force on 9 February 2026. It varies article 46(1)(a) of the Scheme and is signed by Baroness Twycross, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at DCMS. ([gov.uk](https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/consultation-on-the-proposed-rate-per-loan-for-the-2024-to-2025-public-lending-right-scheme-year/outcome/government-response-to-a-consultation-on-the-public-lending-right-rate-per-loan-for-the-scheme-year-202425?utm_source=openai))
The adjustment implements the British Library Board’s 2024/25 recommendation, which DCMS consulted on between 13 October and 7 November 2025. Government’s response records broad support and explains the rationale: the rate per loan rises when estimated total loans fall, and falls when estimated loans rise, to keep aggregate payments within the PLR fund. The move from 11.76p to 12.40p is a 0.64p (around 5.4%) increase. ([gov.uk](https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/consultation-on-the-proposed-rate-per-loan-for-the-2024-to-2025-public-lending-right-scheme-year/outcome/government-response-to-a-consultation-on-the-public-lending-right-rate-per-loan-for-the-scheme-year-202425?utm_source=openai))
Payments due in February 2026 will be calculated against loans recorded during the 2024/25 Scheme year (1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025). The British Library’s PLR office samples loans from a panel of authorities and ‘grosses up’ to a national estimate for each registered work; results are then multiplied by the rate per loan, subject to a £1 minimum and a £6,600 maximum per rights holder. DCMS indicated an allocation for distribution of £6.54m for 2024/25, up from £6.41m in 2023/24. ([gov.uk](https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/consultation-on-the-proposed-rate-per-loan-for-the-2024-to-2025-public-lending-right-scheme-year/consultation-on-the-public-lending-right-rate-per-loan-for-the-scheme-year-202425?utm_source=openai))
In practical terms, 1,000 notional loans will now return £124, compared with £117.60 under the previous rate-an increase of £6.40. At 20,000 loans, the uplift would be £128. Authors whose calculated entitlement exceeds the £6,600 cap will see no change until their total falls below the ceiling; the minimum payment of £1 remains in place.
Scope remains unchanged. PLR covers loans by public library services across the UK, including remote lending of e‑books and e‑audiobooks. Eligible beneficiaries include authors and a range of other contributors-such as illustrators, translators, narrators, producers, abridgers and editors-provided they are registered with the PLR office. ([gov.uk](https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/consultation-on-the-proposed-rate-per-loan-for-the-2024-to-2025-public-lending-right-scheme-year/consultation-on-the-public-lending-right-rate-per-loan-for-the-scheme-year-202425?utm_source=openai))
The recent trajectory illustrates the Scheme’s adjustment mechanism. Following a sharp reduction to 13.69p in February 2024 and a further reduction to 11.76p in February 2025, the rate now moves to 12.40p in February 2026 as estimated loans have eased. DCMS’s consultation outcome explicitly links rate movements inversely to the total loans estimate. ([legislation.gov.uk](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2024/34/made?utm_source=openai))
The variation is made under section 3(7) of the Public Lending Right Act 1979 and does not alter eligibility or operational process. In line with previous annual variations, DCMS has treated the change as administrative; for example, the 2025 order recorded no significant impact on the public, private or voluntary sectors and therefore no full impact assessment. ([legislation.gov.uk](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2025/11/made?utm_source=openai))
For rights holders and agents, the immediate task is administrative rather than strategic: ensure PLR registrations and payment details with the British Library are current ahead of the February payment run. Payments are issued annually by the British Library using the notional loans methodology set out in the Scheme. ([gov.uk](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/annual-report-to-parliament-on-public-libraries-activities-from-april-2024-to-march-2025/annual-libraries-report-2024-to-2025?utm_source=openai))