The All Party Parliamentary
Group on Publishing

The All Party Parliamentary Group on Publishing exists to promote the value of high quality publishing to UK society, culture and the economy. To foster a better understanding among parliamentarians about publishers, booksellers and associated fields, all of whom contribute to a world-leading publishing sector.

In the past the All Party Parliamentary Group on Publishing has considered a broad range of issues from copyright, piracy, the digital market and VAT to skills and international trade.

This is not an official website of the House of Commons or the House of Lords. It has not been approved by either House or its committees. All-Party Parliamentary Groups are informal groups of Members of both Houses with a common interest in particular issues. The views expressed in these webpages are those of the group.

About us

The UK book and journal publishing industry is worth £6 billion, of which exports account for £3.5bn. In fact, the UK exports more than any other publishing industry in the world. At home, the industry account for 1 in 10 jobs in the UK’s creative industries.

In a rapidly evolving marketplace there is an increasing need for publishers, digital partners and intermediaries and policy makers to work together. Their shared goal should be to create the best possible access for consumers and others through licensing and innovative business models which fully exploit the potential of digital technology.

This can only be achieved by encouraging the development of cutting-edge business opportunities whilst upholding and enforcing the principles of copyright and territorial rights.

Administrative support for the All Party Parliamentary Group on Publishing is provided by the Publishers Association, which represents the interests of UK publishers across consumer, education and academic publishing. Our members publish academic journals, textbooks for higher, secondary and primary education, fiction, non-fiction, children’s and learning resources.

Our membership

Membership of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Publishing is constructed from across the political spectrum from both the House of Commons and the House of Lords.

Andrew Lewer MP, Chair of the APPG for Publishing

Officers

  • Chair: Andrew Lewer MP, Conservative
  • Vice Chair: Baroness Rebuck, Labour

  • Baroness Bonham Carter of Yarnbury, Liberal Democrat
  • Lord Clement-Jones, Liberal Democrat
  • Lord Foster of Bath, Liberal Democrat
  • David Jones MP, Conservative
  • John Hayes MP, Conservative
  • Greg Smith MP, Conservative
  • Giles Watling MP, Conservative
  • Lord Strathcarron, Conservative
  • Lord Black of Brentwood, Conservative
  • Lord Gilbert of Panteg, Conservative
  • Sir John Whittingdale MP, Conservative 
  • Lord Taylor of Warwick

Upcoming Events

There are currently no upcoming events being hosted by the APPG for Publishing. If you would like to find out more about APPG’s activity, please contact Aoife O’Callaghan-White.

News

03 March 2020

The Government should make protecting the UK’s gold-standard copyright regime a top priority. Intellectual Property laws that are fit for purpose must be pre-requisites for all future UK trade deals, finds a report released by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Publishing.

The APPG, chaired by Andrew Lewer MBE MP, makes a number of key recommendations for maintaining a world-leading publishing sector in the report. These include removing the 20% VAT on digital publications, to promote literacy and equal access to books, and creating a balanced Open Access.

The report, Maintaining a World-Leading Publishing Sector, is the outcome of an inquiry by the APPG. This aimed to assess the benefits that publishers and booksellers from all disciplines bring to the UK, whilst also evaluating the potential risks that may affect the success of the industry over the coming years.

Key recommendations made in the report are:

  • Promote literacy and equal access to books by removing the 20% VAT on digital publications.
  • Maintain and extend fair market opportunities for the publishing industry by incentivising digital platforms to take responsibility in preventing the sale of illegal goods on their sites and continuing to cut business rates for independent booksellers.
  • Protect and respect the UK’s gold-standard copyright regime.
  • Create a balanced Open Access policy.
  • Ensure all students learn from high-quality resources by ending austerity in schools and supporting a competitive market for education resources.

Andrew Lewer MBE MP, Chair of the APPG for Publishing, said: “The value of the UK’s publishing industry is £6 billion, of which exports account for £3.5 billion. The UK exports more physical books than any other country in the world. Publishing accounts for 1 in 10 jobs in the UK’s creative industries.

“It is imperative that the contribution the publishing industry makes to the UK – and the world – is truly recognised in Westminster and Whitehall. The APPG for Publishing now calls on the Government to advance the policy recommendations required for the UK’s book industry to thrive long into the future.”

Stephen Lotinga, CEO of the Publishers Association said: “This welcome report highlights the importance of publishing and offers achievable recommendations to ensure the continued success of the UK publishing industry. A vibrant publishing industry is key in encouraging literacy and social mobility so it should be a top priority for the Government.”

Contact

If you wish to contact the All Party Parliamentary Group on Publishing, please contact:

Mr Andrew Lewer MP
House of Commons
London
SW1A 0AA

Telephone: 0207 219 3870
Email: andrew.lewer.mp@parliament.uk

Please note that for local or individual problems, it is usually more appropriate to contact your own MP directly. There is a parliamentary convention that MPs must deal only with their own constituents. If you are not sure who your MP is, you can find out using the constituency locator. The Group will offer support to your MP if he or she wishes.