The APPG on Publishing of which I am Co-Chair held a meeting on 8 July 2026 to disseminate the findings of the Harper Collins UK report.  The secretariat to the APPG, the Publishers Association arranged for Alison David, Consumer Insight Director, HCCB and Farshore, Sam Eadrley, Sales and Marketing Director, Collins and Jemma Offley, Strategy and Public Affairs Manager, Harper Collins to present their findings. 

As part of the Year of Reading, there is a general encouragement to help children read for pleasure. The report set out the barriers and the solutions:

Barriers:                           Solutions:

Reading feels like work:     Remove pressure

Book discovery is hear:      Provide a wide choice

Screens win:                     Allow free choice

Infrequently read to:         Read to children, frequently and through out childhood.

Storytime in School:  Harper Collins also worked with 20 primary schools, 86 teachers 3,000 children ( 7-10) in Spring term 2023.

Teachers reported a positive impact: Enjoyment, confidence as readers, concentration, increased voluntary reading, reading a wider range of books, happiness and wellbeing. the average reading age gain was 12 months. 

The photo shows Sir Julian Lewis MP. There were other attendees included Chris Evans and Lord Mendoza who all took part in the discussion which included and possible debate at the end of the Year of Reading. 

https://www.publishers.org.uk         

I chaired the Sixth delegated legislation Committee on Wednesday 8 July 2026. 

The Committee discussed the draft Trade Unions (Permissible Means of Voting) and Employment Rights (Unfair Dismissal) (Amendment) Order 2026 together with the draft Code of Practice on Electronic and Workplace Ballots for Statutory Trade Union Ballots."

The scope of the legislation which is to amend the Trade Union and Labour Relations Consolidation Act 1912 and the Employment Rights Act 1996 to ( i) allow in addition to postal voting , electronic or hybrid voting in ballots relating to industrial action, political fund resolutions, union elections and union mergers and also workplace voting in ballots relating to industrial action, and (ii) amend the Employment Rights Act 1996 to reflect the position in the Employment Rights Act 2025 on unfair dismissal protection for redundancy in the context of industrial action and make transitional provision.

The Secretary may issue a Code of Practice containing practical guidance for the purpose of promoting the improvement of industrial relations and promoting desirable practices in relation to the conduct by trade unions of ballots and elections. The Code provides guidance to independent scrutineers and trade unions on the use of electronic and workplace balloting methods for statutory trade union ballots as well as providing relevant information to employers and union members to support the implementation of the policy in the Order. 

The question was put that the Committee has considered the draft trade unions permissible fees of voting and employment rights unfair dismissal Amendment Order 2026"

On Division 1 - Ayes 11 and Noes 4     On Division 2 - Ayes 11 and Noes 4

 

 

I attended the All Party Writers Group Summer gathering chaired by Chris Evans MP on 7 July 2026. 

I met the author Tony Bradman (second from right) who writes childrens' literature and whose Dilly the Dinosaur series has sold over 2 million copies. Tony is Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. 

As Chair of the APPG on Publishing we spoke about the year of Reading and encouraging reading for pleasure. 

 

 

I was delighted to meet a Sixth Form Group with the Head Mr Smith in the Discovery Room at the Education Centre in Parliament following their rescheduled tour to The Elizabeth Tower and Big Ben (the bell) on 7 July 2026. 

The thoughtful questions ranged from what am I most proud of achieving and how I became an MP. There were some students who want to study law and politics. I explained that there are MPs from all backgrounds and persistence and resilience are key skills. 

hhttps://www.bluecoatacademy.org

 

https://youtu.be/rUlBuUuLqvU?si=r3wQ0NSS0QKW0xrg