Libraries in state primary schools

That this House welcomes the National Literacy Trust and Penguin Random House’s Libraries for Primaries campaign; is concerned that research shows that one in seven state primary schools in the UK do not have a library or dedicated library space; understands that children in disadvantaged areas are disproportionately affected by this; urges the Government to add data collection on libraries in schools to the school census; congratulates the campaign for transforming over 1,000 school libraries and training over 2,500 teachers and support staff so far; notes that the UK needs to go further, as there is currently no statutory requirement for schools to have a library despite the positive effects the statutory requirement to have libraries in prisons has had in that space; is further alarmed by the results of the National Literacy Trust’s Annual Reading Survey which shows that two thirds of children and young people do not read for pleasure; recognises the personal benefits reading for pleasure brings to children and their development including higher attainment, increased opportunities and better wellbeing; highlights research by British Land with the National Literacy Trust which shows that reading for pleasure can result in more children getting five good GCSEs, which in turn would boost their lifetime earnings and raise the UK’s GDP to deliver economic growth; and believes all schools in the country should have a library or dedicated library space, particularly in the context of the current reading for enjoyment crisis.