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19 May 2026 - Reading for Pleasure - Oral evidence

Committee Education Committee
Inquiry Reading for Pleasure

Tuesday 19 May 2026

Start times: 9:30am (private) 10:00am (public)


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Children’s Laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce gives evidence to MPs on reading for pleasure

MPs on the Education Committee will hear from children’s author and current Children’s Laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce, as well as representatives of booksellers, publishers and libraries.

Meeting details

At 10:00am: Oral evidence
Inquiry Reading for Pleasure
screenwriter, novelist, and children's author and Waterstones Children’s Laureate 2024 – 2026 at (None)
President at The Publishers Association
Managing Director at The Booksellers Association
Editorial Director at Merky Books
At 11:00am: Oral evidence
Inquiry Reading for Pleasure
Chief Executive at Libraries Connected
Chief Development Officer at Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP)
Chair of Trustees at Community Libraries Network
Chair at Chief Cultural and Leisure Officers Association (CLOA)

The Committee is currently considering what the government can do to reverse the sharp decline in children reading for pleasure.

In the first panel of Tuesday’s evidence session, MPs are likely to ask witnesses to set out how authors, booksellers and publishers can encourage children to read for pleasure, including those with SEND or from disadvantaged backgrounds, as well as how effectively they work with schools and with initiatives such as the National Year of Reading.

In the second panel, MPs will explore the role of public libraries in encouraging reading for pleasure. They will ask what impact the decline in funding for public libraries has had, as well as whether the government’s planned £150,000 boost in funding will improve their ability to support reading.

Location

The Grimond Room, Portcullis House

How to attend