Written Question·Department of Health and Social Care·UIN 60566

Mental Health: Reading

Tabled: 17 June 2025
Answered: 30 June 2025

Question

James Naish

LabourRushcliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of (a) parents and (b) carers reading to young children on the mental wellbeing of (i) children, (ii) parents and (iii) carers.

Answer

Ashley Dalton
No such assessment has been made. We know that, according to research, reading helps to reduce stress levels and could be beneficial to mental health and well-being.