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World Book Day — [Wera Hobhouse in the Chair]
05 March 2026
Lead MP
Helen Hayes
Dulwich and West Norwood
Lab
Responding Minister
Olivia Bailey
Tags
Culture, Media & Sport
Word Count: 12526
Other Contributors: 11
At a Glance
Helen Hayes raised concerns about world book day — [wera hobhouse in the chair] in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
Helen Hayes asks the Government to address the decline in reading for pleasure by promoting reading as a social activity, ensuring inclusive and accessible texts for children with special educational needs and disabilities, and supporting initiatives that connect reading to children's interests.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Helen Hayes is concerned about the declining number of children reading for pleasure, with just one in three children and young people aged eight to 18 saying they enjoy reading in their free time, a decrease of a third since 2005. Girls are significantly more likely to read for pleasure than boys, with 39% of girls aged eight to 18 enjoying reading compared to 26% of boys. The decline in reading for pleasure is also worse in England compared to the international average. Barriers to reading for pleasure include an increase in recreational screen use, an overcrowded curriculum, cuts to library services and school libraries, a lack of a quiet reading environment, and a decline in reading among adults.
Alex Mayer
Lab
Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard
Alex Mayer discussed the impact of Mary Norton's work on Leighton Buzzard and the challenges in central Bedfordshire regarding reading standards for white working-class pupils. He highlighted the importance of the National Year of Reading and local libraries. He also shared his experience with Amazon's printing facility in his constituency, leading to a positive change in how books are printed there. He emphasised the growth of self-publishing and the impact it has on Dunstable.
Amanda Hack
Lab
North West Leicestershire
Amanda Hack celebrated the work of local libraries in North West Leicestershire, highlighting initiatives such as a uniform and dress-up swap at Castle Donington library. She mentioned that only one in three children aged eight to 18 enjoy reading in their spare time, underscoring the importance of libraries in tackling the literacy crisis. Hack thanked volunteers and library staff for their dedication.
Caroline Voaden
Lib Dem
South Devon
Caroline Voaden highlighted the importance of early reading for children's vocabulary development and social mobility. She cited research showing that regular reading by parents exposes children to 290,000 more words by age five compared to those who do not regularly read books. Voaden urged the Government to focus on educating parents through family hubs and to invest in school libraries to ensure access to books. She also discussed the decline in reading rates among children and the impact of recreational screen use, advocating for stronger measures against addictive social media platforms. Voaden called for a broader curriculum that encourages reading for pleasure.
Jack Rankin
Con
Windsor
Jack Rankin spoke in a playful Seussian style, highlighting the importance of reading for children, mentioning how books can improve literacy and mathematical skills. He praised the work of libraries and the impact of World Book Day. He also advocated for banning phones and social media for under-16s in schools to enhance learning environments.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Jim Shannon emphasised the importance of celebrating World Book Day, praising the hon. Member for Dulwich and West Norwood for setting the scene well. He highlighted his personal passion for reading and the impact of books on young people, noting the importance of school libraries and literacy achievements in Northern Ireland. Shannon also acknowledged the work of libraries in his constituency and their role beyond lending books, such as providing social interaction for elderly people. Jim Shannon briefly intervened to note the number six, likely in reference to a point made by a previous speaker.
Julie Minns
Lab
Carlisle
Julie Minns invited Amanda Hack to pay tribute to her constituent Hayley Slack, the author of 'Little Coffee Cup', a book printed entirely on recycled coffee cups. Minns argued that this innovative approach to book writing and publishing encourages young people to read and think about sustainability.
Kwasi Kwarteng
Con
Spelthorne
Kwasi Kwarteng acknowledges the importance of World Book Day and highlights the role of libraries and independent bookshops in promoting reading. He supports the Government's National Year of Reading and notes the positive impact of events like World Book Day in creating a buzz around reading.
Liam Conlon
Lab
Beckenham and Penge
Acknowledged the importance of children's authors, mentioning local authors like Enid Blyton and Walter de la Mare, and thanked current children's authors for their contributions.
Glasgow West
Patricia Ferguson shared her personal experience of falling in love with reading and organised a competition among primary schools in her constituency to mark World Book Day. She thanked the librarians and schools for their participation and highlighted the importance of reading for children. She also mentioned the Dolly Parton Imagination Library initiative, which has distributed over 7 million books in the UK, and noted the irony of Conservative and Reform supporters identifying 'Paddington' as their favourite children's book, while advocating for access to books for displaced children in conflict zones. Patricia Ferguson mentioned the 'Bookbug' scheme in Scotland, which encourages communal reading, singing, and actions for new-born babies through early primary school children.
Peter Swallow
Lab
Bracknell
Peter Swallow, in his capacity as Chair of the all-party parliamentary group for schools, learning and assessment and the chair of the all-party parliamentary group on social mobility, praised World Book Day and highlighted the Government's commitment to ensure every primary school in England has a library by the end of the Parliament. He stressed the importance of reading for pleasure, noting a 36% decrease in children between eight and 18 years old who are reading for pleasure since 2005, particularly among those with special educational needs and boys. He mentioned the British Dyslexia Association's suggestions to support inclusive reading habits and the need to understand why young men do not pick up books again while their female classmates do. He emphasized that reading is not only important for academic purposes but also for emotional intelligence and empathy. Peter Swallow thanked grandparents, kinship carers, and extended family for supporting parents in reading to their children.
Richard Quigley
Lab
Isle of Wight West
Celebrated the Isle of Wight's rich literary tradition, mentioning notable authors like Charles Dickens and Alfred, Lord Tennyson, while also highlighting the current challenges in literacy and educational deprivation faced by the island's children. The constituency is second-highest in the south for educational deprivation and one in three children leave school unable to read at the expected level.
Government Response
Olivia Bailey
Government Response
Olivia Bailey praised the hon. Member for Windsor and thanked all Members for their contributions. She highlighted the importance of World Book Day and the National Year of Reading campaign. She noted that just one in three children say they enjoy reading, which is an all-time low. She announced a £10 million commitment to ensure every primary school in England has a library by the end of this Parliament and a £5 million commitment for secondary schools to purchase books and reading materials. She also discussed the Government's guidance on screen time for children and the importance of inclusive reading. Additionally, she mentioned the Government's funding boost for local library services in areas with the greatest need and the awarding of a £1,000 cash prize to each of the five English regional winners of the library of the year award. She emphasized the Government's commitment to improving reading and writing standards and training for schools to help children progress from the early stages of phonics to reading fluently. She praised the contributions of charities and organisations promoting reading for pleasure and expressed her personal joy of reading books like 'Peter Rabbit' during her childhood.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.