Reporting on the literacy campaign's progress after six months, the minister said the government had provided £115m for schools to buy books - including the Budget announcement of £2,000 for each school specifically for books.

The extra books and the emphasis on reading was also contributing to the National Literacy Strategy, said the minister, which is seeking to raise standards of reading and writing with initiatives such as the 'literacy hour'.

Estelle Morris has welcomed the efforts of the Year of Reading

The literacy hour, introduced last September, requires primary schools to dedicate an hour a day specifically to improve reading and writing. However there have been complaints from teachers' unions that the literacy hour involves too much paperwork and bureaucracy.

The Year of Reading has attempted to raise awareness of literacy among both schoolchildren and adults, with promotional events and projects designed to encourage reading at all levels.

The minister, commending the many local projects that have supported the campaign, said "the sheer range of organisations and people involved demonstrates how the year has grabbed people's imaginations".