World Book Day 2019

Motion Text

That this House recognises 7 March 2019 as World Book Day in the UK and Ireland celebrating authors, illustrators, books and reading; congratulates World Book Day for its 22nd World Book Day being held in 2019; notes that the UK ranks 17th for literacy among 34 OECD countries; further notes that one in eight disadvantaged children in the UK do not own a book; notes that one in five children in England cannot read well by the age of 11; further recognises the contribution of Mercurial Pictures by premiering their H is for Harry documentary on World Book Day which encourages policymakers, schools, teachers and young people to work together to ensure provisions are in place for early intervention; and pays tribute to the staff and teachers in schools across the nation for their efforts in delivering quality literacy education to young people, equipping them with the skills to reach their full potential.