§ 37. Mr. Simon Burns (West Chelmsford)What plans she has to ensure that the dates of future parliamentary recesses coincide with school holidays. [121916]
§ The President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Mrs. Margaret Beckett)The dates for schools holidays are already a factor in setting recesses, but other considerations must be taken into account.
§ Mr. BurnsMany hon. Members on both sides of the House have children who are younger than, say, those of hon. Members 30 years ago. May I thank the Leader of the House for her genuine efforts over the past two years or so in trying to make parliamentary recesses coincide more with school holidays? However, it was a disappointment to go into the Easter recess as the schools went back from their Easter break. As we know dates of school holidays in the state and private sectors for at least the next 15 months, will the Leader of the House redouble her efforts and her sterling work to try and make those dates coincide with those of parliamentary recesses when feasible?
§ Mrs. BeckettI am grateful for the hon. Gentleman's kind remarks. It is true that we try hard to make recesses coincide with school holidays. I understand and sympathise very much with all those whose children were back at school in the last recess. Unfortunately, however, the great bulk of school holidays occurred after Easter and it was not possible to combine the variation in school holiday dates with a reasonable length of recess. The hon. Gentleman will appreciate that at least some of his hon. Friends are constantly calling for shorter recesses.