This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/parliament-debate-over-cheaper-halfterm-holidays-9150370.html

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Parliament debate over cheaper half-term holidays Parliament debate over cheaper half-term holidays
(35 minutes later)
Holiday prices could fall during peak times as schools are given more control on setting half-term dates, the consumer affairs minister said on Monday. Vacation prices are hiked due to high demand duringhalf-term, however as schools are given the option to change the dates fortheir holidays, these may come to drop, the consumer affairs minister, JennyWillott, said on Monday.
Jenny Willott insisted the coalition has no plans to regulate as it is not convinced higher prices during school holidays are caused by "market abuse" by the holiday industry, but instead reflect the demand in an international competitive sector. The minister was talking in Westminster Hall during the Parliament debate over holiday prices. Ms Willott made it clear the coalition would not be taking on a regulatory role over the issue, stating the higher prices were not due to “market abuse” as some had alleged. Instead, she said the prices were a reflection of the current market realities.
But Ms Willott said proposals to enable schools greater choice on when to set holidays by next year could result in different break times for pupils across the country, which would extend the peak holiday period and could help bring prices down. Propositions to allow schools to change their half-term dates, and thus make the peak period more flexible, could potentially help in bringing prices down, as the demand would be spread out across a longer length of time.
The holiday industry argues that making the peak period longer would spread demand over more days and enable it to make the same amount of money at lower prices, the Liberal Democrat MP said. The debate was brought forward to Parliament following a petition which collected 168,196 signatures on the official government website. The petition was created by Donna Thresher and asked for the current situation of "holiday price hikes" to be assessed.
Ms Willott added that family holidays can be "incredible value" but should not be at the expense of a child's education, with school attendance throughout the year remaining "critical" to improved exam results. People have spoken out against “unfairly high” prices during the peak times, however the Government brushed off any allegations that the holiday industry was “cashing in” on the situation and manipulating the market’s offers.
The minister was speaking during a Westminster Hall debate on a petition calling for action to stop holiday companies "cashing in" by ramping up prices during the school holidays. The petition notably demanded a cap on the price increase during school holidays to allow for “guilt-free family time”.
The e-petition, created by Donna Thresher, demanded "guilt-free family time" for parents and a cap on the percentage increase on prices in school holidays.
It secured 168,196 signatures on the Government's website.
Ms Willott told the debate: "I think the staggering of school holiday periods could indeed lengthen the period of peak demand and it could therefore help bring prices down and I completely understand why people are suggesting as a result the Government should arrange for holiday periods to be spread.Ms Willott told the debate: "I think the staggering of school holiday periods could indeed lengthen the period of peak demand and it could therefore help bring prices down and I completely understand why people are suggesting as a result the Government should arrange for holiday periods to be spread.
"But at the moment the Government doesn't set term and holiday dates. Currently local authorities set the dates for community and voluntary-controlled schools but academies, free schools and voluntary-aided schools - church schools - set their own dates."But at the moment the Government doesn't set term and holiday dates. Currently local authorities set the dates for community and voluntary-controlled schools but academies, free schools and voluntary-aided schools - church schools - set their own dates.
"What the Government is doing is the Deregulation Bill, which is currently before the House, will extend the power to set term dates to all schools by 2015."What the Government is doing is the Deregulation Bill, which is currently before the House, will extend the power to set term dates to all schools by 2015.
"So all schools will be able to set their own dates and be able to vary them."So all schools will be able to set their own dates and be able to vary them.
"So what the Government believes is term dates - (which) have been raised by a number of people today actually - that this is an issue which should be dealt with locally in negotiation and cooperation across an area so that it can take into account the educational needs of the students in the schools and all the practicalities in the school year...""So what the Government believes is term dates - (which) have been raised by a number of people today actually - that this is an issue which should be dealt with locally in negotiation and cooperation across an area so that it can take into account the educational needs of the students in the schools and all the practicalities in the school year..."
Ms Willott said it was clear the dates would need to be arranged across areas regionally, adding that she believed this was something the Deregulation Bill would look at how best to resolve when it becomes law, to help families and schools. The minister acknowledged dates would have to be arranged regionally, an issue the bill would look into addressing when it would come to be law.
Concluding, Ms Willott said: "The Government is not convinced higher prices in school holidays are as a result of market abuse by the holiday industry, but rather they reflect the market forces in a very competitive sector, which is also made worse by the fact that we're part of an international competition as well in that market."Concluding, Ms Willott said: "The Government is not convinced higher prices in school holidays are as a result of market abuse by the holiday industry, but rather they reflect the market forces in a very competitive sector, which is also made worse by the fact that we're part of an international competition as well in that market."
Ms Willott said she was "very sympathetic to those who struggle to afford a holiday in peak season", adding that she appreciated the significant differences in price.Ms Willott said she was "very sympathetic to those who struggle to afford a holiday in peak season", adding that she appreciated the significant differences in price.
On school pupils going on holiday during term time, the minister said it was for headteachers to decide whether the application met the "exceptional circumstances" criteria.On school pupils going on holiday during term time, the minister said it was for headteachers to decide whether the application met the "exceptional circumstances" criteria.
She said: "Just to make it clear, the Government hasn't said that no absence is possible. It has given headteachers the discretion to make that call and we also haven't specified what constitutes exceptional circumstances as we think individual cases need to be considered individually.She said: "Just to make it clear, the Government hasn't said that no absence is possible. It has given headteachers the discretion to make that call and we also haven't specified what constitutes exceptional circumstances as we think individual cases need to be considered individually.
"A number of people mentioned the need to trust headteachers and that is exactly what the Government is trying to do to ensure headteachers have the power and the discretion to look at the individual circumstances of a particular application and take that into account.""A number of people mentioned the need to trust headteachers and that is exactly what the Government is trying to do to ensure headteachers have the power and the discretion to look at the individual circumstances of a particular application and take that into account."
Before the debate, Education Secretary Michael Gove said it is "wrong" for parents to take children out of school during term time to take advantage of cheaper holidays.Before the debate, Education Secretary Michael Gove said it is "wrong" for parents to take children out of school during term time to take advantage of cheaper holidays.
He suggested that parents should instead lobby their schools to change their term dates to allow pupils to go on holiday at different times. PA He suggested that parents should instead lobby their schools to change their term dates to allow pupils to go on holiday at different times.
Additional reporting by PA