Schoolbook publishers say they brought out new editions of just over one-in-50 titles last year and income from sales is down despite the continuing rise in student numbers.

Anti-bullying awareness adverts will be inserted in a large percentage of primary and secondary school textbooks by the end of 2014.

The publishers of school books have demanded a change in government policy on Vat on e-textbooks and said they were doing all they could to limit the costs borne by parents.

School book publishers say they have kept price increases and new editions to just 1% of thousands of titles in the last three years and that more than one-third are now available in ebook format.