Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Department for Education

Oral Answers to Questions

Alexander Stafford Excerpts
Monday 29th April 2024

(2 weeks, 4 days ago)

Commons Chamber
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Damian Hinds Portrait Damian Hinds
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We have increased the amount of money going into condition funding. We are also, of course, rebuilding 500 schools under the school rebuilding programme. I will look into the specific case the hon. Gentleman mentions and come back to him.

Alexander Stafford Portrait Alexander Stafford (Rother Valley) (Con)
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My hon. Friend will be aware of my campaign to improve literacy across the country by improving children’s access to libraries in their schools and communities. Much can also be done by parents, grandparents and carers in the years before children start school. What is the Department doing to improve access to books and audiobooks in particular, as well as other literary materials, for pre-school children?

David Johnston Portrait David Johnston
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My hon. Friend raises an excellent point. Reading is one of the most important things children can be doing at a young age. Our Little Moments Together campaign provides free resources for parents to encourage a positive culture of reading at home, and we also fund the National Literacy Trust, which does great work to promote reading.