SUE TOWNSEND

That this House is saddened to hear of the death of Sue Townsend; acknowledges her valuable contribution to literature not only in the UK but worldwide; admires her achievement in the sale of over 10 million books translated into around 48 languages worldwide; commends her for her creation of the character Adrian Mole which has come to be ingrained in the country's psyche; recognises the fact that she received an Honorary Master of Arts from Leicester University, was made a Distinguished Honorary Fellow of Leicester University and was awarded the Honorary Freedom of Leicester; and calls on the Government to do all it can to promote creative writing in the UK in honour of Sue Townsend.