Dolly's books scheme is 'an inspiration'

The Wentworth and Dearne MP lavished praise on the under-fives book-gifting project, suggesting it should be rolled out across the UK.

More than 13,600 youngsters now receive a free book every month under the reading scheme, launched in 2007 by Dolly Parton.

Speaking in a parliamentary debate on Monday, Mr Healey said: “Teachers in Rotherham report that there are children who, without the Imagination Library, would have no books at home at all.

“I am proud that the first Imagination Library in this country was set up in Rotherham, and is now run right across the area.

“Above all, our Rotherham scheme shows the power of a parcel arriving with a child’s name on it and their own book inside.

“It sparks a kid’s imagination from the very earliest age, giving every young child a better start in life and a better chance to read.”

The Imagination Library is run as a charity and children signed up at birth amass their own library of 60 books by their fifth birthday.

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But there has been criticism because of the scheme’s reliance on the public purse. Rotherham Borough Council invested £300,000 last year.

Mr Healey defended the spend, saying: “The scheme costs £2 per child per month and that covers the cost of the books and the postage.

“That is £24 for each child each year, or £120 over the full five years. Let us compare that to the average spending on each child in the country during their primary school years. Last year, it was £4,139.”

Mr Healey said children enrolled in the Imagination Library outperform others when they begin school before asking Mr Gibb to visit and see for himself.

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