Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

World Book Day — [Mark Pritchard in the Chair]

06 March 2024 · 7 other contributors · 10,990 words

Opened by Nickie Aiken Con Cities of London and Westminster

Responding minister: Damian Hinds

Education

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Nickie Aiken raised concerns about world book day — [mark pritchard in the chair] in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • The Member raised concerns about the correlation between literacy rates and life expectancy, noting the economic impact of poor literacy skills.
  • The Member asked the government to continue supporting initiatives like World Book Day to enhance children's literacy and encourage reading across all age groups.
  • The Minister highlighted government initiatives such as the Nuffield Early Language Intervention, reaching 150,000 children, and phonics screening checks that have increased to 79% in 2023 from 58% in 2012.

Key requests to Government

The Member asks for continued support of initiatives such as World Book Day, advocating for policies that enhance children's literacy and encourage reading among all ages.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Nickie Aiken Con Cities of London and Westminster

The Member is concerned about the importance of reading for pleasure in children's future success, highlighting that one in seven pupils stated their book token was their first book purchase. She also mentioned a concerning correlation between literacy rates and life expectancy, noting that adults with poor literacy skills earn significantly less and have fewer job opportunities. The Member highlighted the need to improve adult literacy rates and access to educational resources.

Other contributors (7)
  • Catherine McKinnell Lab Newcastle upon Tyne North

    The MP thanked the hon. Member for securing this debate and praised World Book Day's contribution to children's education. She highlighted worrying statistics from the annual literacy survey, noting only 40% of children enjoy reading in their free time and 28% read daily. The MP stressed the importance of books for children in poorer households and called for a curriculum review to ensure basic skills are taught effectively. She also emphasised the role of libraries in encouraging reading among children and acknowledged the efforts of charities such as the National Literacy Trust.

  • Dominic Raab Con Esher and Walton

    Thanked the hon. Friend for securing the debate, praising the Government's achievement in increasing literacy levels among young people through an emphasis on phonics and core skills that encourage reading for fun.

  • Gavin Williamson Con Stone, Great Wyrley and Penkridge

    Emphasised the importance of reading for children's development, noting a BookTrust survey that less than half of children under seven from low-income families are read bedtime stories. Praised World Book Day and highlighted the literary tradition in Staffordshire, including Arthur Conan Doyle's visit to Great Wyrley. The hon. Member makes an important point. Some of the statistics are interesting: people who read just 30 minutes a week are 20% more likely to have greater life satisfaction, and 19% of readers say that reading stops them feeling lonely. Similarly, non-readers are 28% more likely to report feelings of depression. Reading is therefore good not just from an educational point of view but from a mental health point of view.

  • Jim Shannon DUP Strangford

    Jim Shannon expressed his love for books and the importance of World Book Day. He highlighted how reading enables people to explore different worlds and escape from daily life, encouraging children to engage with literature through activities like book-swapping initiatives in schools. He emphasized that literacy is a challenge requiring funding support for schools. Shannon also mentioned Northern Ireland's high ranking globally in primary school children's reading proficiency but noted the need for continued efforts to ensure all children can read well and enjoy books. Name them!

  • Peter Grant SNP Glenrothes

    The MP highlighted the importance of World Book Day in primary schools with high levels of deprivation. He mentioned a story about a school librarian who changed a young girl's life by introducing her to books, which helped her see an alternative path and avoid a troubled future. The MP also discussed the historical significance of libraries and advocated for their continued support despite financial constraints.

  • Robin Walker

    Argued that Worcestershire would dispute the suggestion that Tolkien's Shire was based on Staffordshire and suggested that Tolkien enjoyed looking at the Malvern hills, which may have inspired Mordor.

  • Theo Clarke Con Stafford

    Welcomed the debate on World Book Day, highlighting the popularity of Stafford libraries and celebrating HarperCollins' initiative to deliver 50 books to every primary school in his constituency. Emphasised the importance of promoting reading across Stafford. Agreed with the promotion of reading and highlighted Tolkien's connection to his constituency, emphasizing the importance for children in England to rank fourth globally for reading.

Government Response

Damian Hinds

Welcomed the debate and highlighted government measures to promote reading and literacy. Noted initiatives such as Nuffield Early Language Intervention reaching 150,000 children, phonics screening checks increasing from 58% in 2012 to 79% in 2023, and English hubs programmes supporting over 1,600 schools with a focus on disadvantaged backgrounds. Emphasized the importance of teacher professional development through NPQs and the reading framework published by the government.

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