Written Question·Department for Education·UIN 106026

Children: Reading

Tabled: 14 January 2026

Answered: 23 January 2026

Question

James McMurdock

Independent — South Basildon and East Thurrock

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of levels in smartphone usage on children's (a) level of reading comprehension and (b) average time spent reading per week.

Answer

Josh MacAlister

The department knows that reading for pleasure is hugely important and brings a range of benefits, yet just 1 in 3 children aged 8-18 say they enjoy reading in their free time, and a recent omnibus survey found that 31% of parents of primary-aged children...

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