Backbench debate on Thursday, 5 March 2026, in the House of Commons, led by Helen Hayes. The answering member was Olivia Bailey.

World Book Day

Motion that this House has considered World Book Day. Agreed to on question.

Secondary information

Type: Parliamentary proceeding
Reference: 781 cc472-496WH
Session: 2024-26
Department: Department for Education
Chamber / Committee: Westminster Hall
Related items: Reading for pleasure
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Proceeding contributions: Helen Hayes | 781 c472WH (Link to this contribution)
I beg to move,
That this House has considered World Book Day.
It is a pleasure to see...; Amanda Hack | 781 c472WH (Link to this contribution)
I want to celebrate our local libraries and how much they give to our communities. Castle Doningt...; Helen Hayes | 781 cc472-3WH (Link to this contribution)
My hon. Friend is absolutely right. World Book Day is a collaboration between lots of different o...; Julie Minns | 781 c473WH (Link to this contribution)
On that point, I invite my hon. Friend to pay tribute to my constituent Hayley Slack. She wrote t...; Helen Hayes | 781 cc473-7WH (Link to this contribution)
That is a wonderfully creative way to engage children, not only in reading but in a wider and imp...; Jim Shannon | 781 cc477-8WH (Link to this contribution)
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mrs Hobhouse. I thank the hon. Member for Dulwich...; Richard Quigley | 781 cc478-480WH (Link to this contribution)
May I say what an incredible pleasure it is to serve under your superb chairship, Mrs Hobhouse? I...; Peter Swallow | 781 cc480-1WH (Link to this contribution)
It is an honour to serve under your chairship, Mrs Hobhouse. I declare an interest as chair of th...; Liam Conlon | 781 c481WH (Link to this contribution)
My hon. Friend mentions that reading is so important for children’s development and enjoyment. No...; Peter Swallow | 781 c482WH (Link to this contribution)
Absolutely. As we heard, the range of children’s books is growing. It can be slightly reductive t...; Patricia Ferguson | 781 cc482-3WH (Link to this contribution)
It is a pleasure to see you in the Chair, Mrs Hobhouse. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Dul...; Alex Mayer | 781 cc483-5WH (Link to this contribution)
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mrs Hobhouse. I want to put it on the record that...; Caroline Voaden | 781 c485WH (Link to this contribution)
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mrs Hobhouse, and to respond on behalf of my part...; Patricia Ferguson | 781 c485WH (Link to this contribution)
I draw the hon. Member’s attention to a scheme that has been running in Scotland since about 2000...; Caroline Voaden | 781 cc485-6WH (Link to this contribution)
Communal groups where children can read together and parents can be encouraged can really boost a...; Peter Swallow | 781 c486WH (Link to this contribution)
The hon. Lady provokes me to add a huge thank you to all the grandparents, kinship carers and ext...; Caroline Voaden | 781 cc486-8WH (Link to this contribution)
The hon. Member is absolutely right. When I was a rather frazzled single parent of two young chil...; Alex Mayer | 781 c488WH (Link to this contribution)
I recently ran a survey in a local school and asked the children what they thought they would be ...; Caroline Voaden | 781 cc488-9WH (Link to this contribution)
The hon. Member’s contribution illustrates the draw of the smartphone, which is pulling children ...; Jack Rankin | 781 cc489-491WH (Link to this contribution)
It’s a pleasure to serve ’neath your chair’ship today,
And I hope you’ll forgive if today—j...; Wera Hobhouse | 781 c491WH (Link to this contribution)
I sincerely hope that was not AI-generated; it was a very special effort. Follow that, Minister!<...; Olivia Bailey | 781 cc491-2WH (Link to this contribution)
I am not sure it is possible to follow that, although I congratulate the hon. Member for Windsor ...; Jim Shannon | 781 c492WH (Link to this contribution)
Six.; Olivia Bailey | 781 cc492-4WH (Link to this contribution)
Six! I misheard the hon. Member; I do apologise. And I am sure that they really enjoy listening t...; Helen Hayes | 781 cc494-6WH (Link to this contribution)
I thank all hon. Members who contributed to this debate. It has been a consensual debate, celebra...
Subjects: Pupils Literacy Reading Schools Public libraries World Book Day
Link: View this Parliamentary proceeding on hansard.parliament.uk

World Book Day

Secondary information

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