HC Deb 11 February 1999 vol 325 cc460-1
14. Mr. Gordon Marsden (Blackpool, South)

What his assessment is of the response to date by local education authorities to the Government's national year of reading initiatives. [68885]

The Minister for School Standards (Ms Estelle Morris)

The response from local authorities has been extremely positive. All local authorities had a co-ordinator in place by the beginning of the national year of reading. Most also have steering groups in place, bringing together a wide range of local services, including education, libraries and business. That gives a framework within which local initiatives can flourish and can continue to have an impact after the year has officially ended in August.

Mr. Marsden

I thank my hon. Friend the Minister for that answer. Does she agree that good local education authorities have a key role in delivering the link between literacy in the home and literacy in school through family initiatives? Will she therefore join me in applauding the initiative of Blackpool council in appointing a reader-in-residence, Dr. Charles Bennett, a mature student and poet, whose role will be to deliver community learning projects in schools, after-school clubs, youth clubs and community centres? Is not that an excellent way to move forward? Does she agree that imaginative and historical literature can be prime sources for literacy schemes?

Ms Morris

I add my congratulations on the initiatives in my hon. Friend's constituency. His local authority has a good record on its work for the national year of reading. I was delighted recently to announce a further £7,000 to support local community initiatives in the Blackpool area. We perhaps differ about one thing: it is the role of not only local education authorities, but local authorities in general, to work on the national year of reading. The obligation to support our children in learning a love of reading and to support schools in the literacy strategy lies not only with local education authorities but with everyone, whatever their walk of life.

Mr. John Hayes (South Holland and The Deepings)

Does the Minister think that the literacy project would be compromised by the projected widespread closure of public libraries? It is all very well for the Prime Minister yesterday, and the Minister today, to talk about literacy, but how can the scheme possibly be supported by such closures? What assessment has she made of their effect on opportunities for schools and children in areas such as North Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and elsewhere across the United Kingdom?

Ms Morris

I have made no assessment of the effect of libraries because they are not my ministerial responsibility. I have assessed the £48 million that the Government have put into spending on books in schools. The hon. Gentleman must accept that more has been put into supporting literacy through teacher training, getting books to schools and facilities throughout the community, than was ever done under his Government.