The Bookstart programme was initiated, and is now administered, by the independent charity Booktrust.
The titles for distribution are selected by a panel made up of librarians, health visitors, speech and language therapists, early years educationalists and Bookstart members. The panel is independent and has no involvement from Government.
Information about books which are distributed is available online at:
http://www.bookstart.co.uk/Parents-and-carers/Packs/Bookstart-pack-book-titles
In his 12 July 2005 spending review, the Chancellor announced an extension of the Bookstart scheme for the SR period 2005-08, to ensure that every 18 month and three-year-old child receives a Bookstart Plus or My Treasure Chest pack respectively. HMT are providing funding for this of £27 million in total across 2005-08.
In addition, in the pre-Budget report 2006, the Chancellor announced that every child making the transition to primary school at age five and to secondary school at age 11 will also receive a book free of charge—in total three million books going direct to children to lift the reading standards of young people.