MPs debating cost of going away in school holidays
MPs debate cost of going away in school holidays
(about 1 hour later)
MPs are debating ways to stop holiday prices rising during school holidays.
MPs have suggested "staggering" school term dates and giving teachers more discretion on absences during a debate on the cost of holidays.
Ideas being discussed include the possibility of staggering holiday dates and making it easier for parents to take children away in term time.
The debate was sparked by a petition which calls for price caps to stop holiday firms "cashing in" on the school holidays.
No MP backed price regulation during the Westminster Hall debate, and the government also rejected the idea.
But term staggering and more power for schools received widespread support.
Liberal Democrat John Hemming said the issue of prices was a "considerable concern" for many people.
Liberal Democrat John Hemming said the issue of prices was a "considerable concern" for many people.
The Westminster Hall debate was prompted by an e-petition - signed by more than 167,000 people - calling for a cap on price increases.
The e-petition which sparked the debate - signed by more than 168,000 people - calls on the government to "enforce action that caps the percentage increase on holiday prices in school holidays."
The government said the holidays industry was "extremely competitive" and relied on peak times for profits.
But the government has said the holidays industry is "extremely competitive" and relied on peak times for profits.
The petition says: "Family time is so much more essential in the current working world, but so many people cannot afford holidays in school holidays.
The debate came after the Department for Education tightened rules on when head teachers could grant leave for family holidays.
"A break at home is not the same as getting away from it all where there isn't any housework or DIY to get done; instead focus is on family.
Regulations on the matter were amended in September last year so that such holidays could be granted only in "exceptional circumstances".
"It's time to stop the holiday companies cashing in on school holidays and let parents have some guilt-free family time! Enforce action that caps the percentage increase on holiday prices in school holidays."
'Parent trap'
Mother-of-two Donna Thresher from Essex set up the petition in March last year after being "outraged" at the £600 difference in the cost of taking her family away for a weekend during the holidays.
In a response to the petition, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills said: "The UK holiday industry is an extremely competitive market and as a result the sector relies on the profits from peak periods to make sure it can trade throughout the year.
"On top of this, the industry competes internationally against companies from other countries and as a result may need to increase prices during these periods.
"If there were to be any evidence of anti-competitive practices, it should be presented to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in respect of airline prices or the Office of Fair Trading (OFT).
"They have significant powers to investigate and act if they find examples of companies abusing a dominant position or behaving anti-competitively."
Travel firm Travelzoo, which claims taxes can add as much as £376 to outbound flights, started a separate petition calling for Airport Passenger Duty to be suspended during the school summer holidays.
Richard Singer, European managing director at the company, said he was prompted to act after becoming frustrated with what he calls the "parent trap" of government legislation, taxes and tour operator price rises during school holidays.
The debate comes after the Department for Education tightened rules on when head teachers could grant leave for family holidays.
Regulations on the matter were amended in September last year so that such holidays could be granted only in exceptional circumstances.
Mr Hemming, who formally proposed the debate, wants a rethink of these changes.
Earlier he said: "The new rules were brought in 'on the nod' and were not debated before they were brought into force. It is clear that in refusing children permission to go to funerals and having little discretion for head teachers, they are too restrictive."
Anne Longfield, chief executive of national charity 4Children, said: "The hugely inflated prices families face when planning a holiday during the school holidays cannot be justified.
"Pressures on families have been mounting over recent years with strains on job security, household finances and relationships all taking their toll."
