e-petition on extra charges for school holidays: debated by MPs today at 4.30pm

UKParliament

Our goal is to post up information on work undertaken in the House of Commons that has a consumer focus but which may not be highlighted elsewhere.

We have posted this on the Overseas Holidays board because we thought some of you might be interested in the topic of debate – you might have written on one of the threads about it or even signed the petition yourself. We encourage discussion and comments concerning the topic or content of this thread.


e-petition relating to holiday companies charging extra in school holidays
Due to take place on Monday 24 February between 4.30pm-7pm in Westminster Hall


This debate relates to the e-petition: Stop Holiday companies charging extra in school holidays.

The reasoning behind the e-petition is:
Family time is so much more essential in the current working world, but so many people cannot afford holidays in school holidays. A break at home is not the same as getting away from it all where there isn't any house work or DIY to get done, instead focus is on family. Its 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.

So far over 160,000 people have signed the e-petition.

If you would like more details please go to the 'Stop Holiday companies charging extra in school holidays' e-petition webpage


About the Backbench Business Committee:

The Backbench Business Committee meets weekly on Tuesdays at 3pm to consider requests for debates from any backbench Members of Parliament on any subject, including those raised in e-petitions or national campaigns.

An MP must make a representation before the Committee for an e-petition or petition to be debated; e-petitions exceeding the Government's 100,000 signature threshold are not automatically allocated backbench time.

The Committee then has to decide how to allocate the limited Parliamentary time it has at its disposal.

To find out more information about how an e-petition can be debated at Parliament visit e-petitions and the Backbench Business Committee


How to watch:

The debate can be viewed on Parliament TV (Silverlight or Windows Media Player required to stream TV): Parliament TV Player

Transcripts of proceedings in the House of Commons Chamber are available three hours after they happen in Todays Commons Debates

We hope this is of interest
Thanks
DOT

richardw

Thanks for the heads up.

It'll be interesting to see what they say and who understands how the travel industry works.

UKParliament

richardw wrote: »

Thanks for the heads up.

It'll be interesting to see what they say and who understands how the travel industry works.

Thanks richardw!

For those who can't watch we'll also post up a transcript of the debate tomorrow.

Thanks
DOT

lea2012

I won't be able to watch the debate as I will be at work at that time, but I do look forward to reading the transcripts and as Richard says seeing who understands the travel companies and how this could affect them!

I agree that the prices charged in peak season are high, however it's simple supply and demand. It would be better to go back to staggered holidays for each area, rather than everyone being off for the same 6 weeks as this would help spread out the demand and bring prices more in-line I think.

No child or family has a 'right' to a holiday, although they do have a 'right' to education. Holidays are great and they do offer an educational insight for some, dependent on where you go, and do offer valuable family time together. But family time can also be found, for the majority in the evenings and weekends if people put down their phones, tablets and laptops and actually sat with their children instead or took them out to the park. Idealistic, yes of course, and there's always exceptions to the rules but I know too many people (me included) who don't spend their time right in the first place.

I work hard and save hard to ensure that we do have a holiday at least once a year, but I shop around, stick to my budget and don't have unrealistic expectations. For the last 3 years I have enjoyed two weeks abroad in July/August school holidays for less than £1000 total for a family of three. We then spend around £800 when we're there and that includes meals out, days out etc. It can be done if you use common sense and shop around! Stop blaming the holiday companies for everything.

bluenoseam

With respects I consider this "debate" to be nothing short of a waste of time which could be better spent dealing with important issues facing the country. Let me be clear, everyone knows that holidays during school holidays are expensive, that's never been a secret, but that's the nature of things. Ultimately having children is a CHOICE and one which when you make it you should be willing to accept ALL the consequences of that choice.

Seems to me like parliament once again looking after the poor, harassed middle classes rather than doing what's best for the WHOLE country.

deva

Supply and demand, and unless we are talking about uk holidays only, the government cannot stop international hoteliers/ tour operators selling to whoever pays the most regardless of nationality.

Put simply if the organisers of this petition win then many resorts will ignore uk travellers almost completely and earn their money elsewhere

budgetflyer

I agree.
While their at it, they can maybe debate the fixing of prices of oil, bananas,coffee, gold etc etc. I hate the way they go up and down, but its all supply and demand.

Some people want us living in a commie state, everything controlled by the government. A spoonful of methadone to keep the masses happy.

peachyprice

If those parents who signed the petition got up off their backsides and made the effort to book independent travel they'd find holidays in school holidays much cheaper.

You book a package, you pay the price.

rochja

If an e-petition gets 100,000 signatures it is considered for debate. Since the HoP know there is very little they can do about free market economics especially in overseas markets this is a particularly pointless and hence safe topic to debate. What I would like to know is twofold: What proportion of petitions that achieve 100,000 signatures are debated, and given the plethora of petitions that arise on the same topic, should the condition not be a debate when the topic rather than any individual petition achieves the magic milestone?

wallbash

Look on the bright side, after a few years your kids have grown up and you are free to go on holiday any time of year. Some of us 'married' into the teaching profession, and have faced expensive holidays for decades.
But it was our choice.
The idea would benefit me more than most, but I won't sign.

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth

Another bulldozer bill, garnered to engulf the gullible, but about to fall flat on its face in reality. get rid of the problem, that is fixed terms for schools and realsie that everyomne is different. And thye 6 week teachers holiday in the summer, was so children could help the harvest.

I am rather glad that the kids are back this week, because, as supply and demand, my hotel, normally £80 per night, this weekend, £59.99 for two, with extra reward points. Bonus!