Written Question·Department for Education·UIN 113890

Reading

Tabled: 20 February 2026
Answered: 10 March 2026

Question

Mrs Elsie Blundell

LabourHeywood and Middleton North

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure schools are promoting reading as a substitute to social media use.

Answer

Josh MacAlister
We know that reading for pleasure is hugely important and brings a range of benefits. However, we also know that just one in three children aged 8 to 18 read in their free time, and a recent Omnibus Survey by the department found that 31% of parents of pr...

This is an extract from the Parliament API. Search the full answer on Parliament.uk (UIN 113890) →