Submission from Malcolm Bruce MP
I was disappointed to see the proposed summer
rising date of 28 July, which just confirms that the so-called
family friendly hours of the House are anything but.
I support the September sitting which I understand
Ministers do not like. I appreciate there are reasons for not
sitting in September next year but fear we will slide back to
the old ways.
There are two benefits of a September sitting.
One is that we avoid a hiatus of three months when current events
cannot be highlighted in the House. The other is that it allows
the House to rise earlier in July and thus more time with their
families.
Next year Aberdeenshire schools in line with
the rest of Scotland break up for the summer holidays on July
1 and return on August 16. This means there is only one summer
fortnight we can book our holiday together.
These things matter for a conscientious MP who
is routinely away from home and family from Monday to Thursday
and sometimes longer.
Aberdeenshire usually takes the first two weeks
of April regardless of when Easter falls. The February and May
breaks do not coincide with any Scottish school holidays and the
House returns in October just as the Scottish half term starts.
I do not for a minute suggest that the House
should conform to Scottish school holidays but it is a matter
of despair that there is virtually no overlap.
The new arrangements at least promised an earlier
start to the summer recess—ie 14 July which makes a huge
difference.
Personally I would rather sit until ten on Tuesdays
and Wednesdays and allow longer recesses. Finishing at seven does
not help family bonding when the family is 500 miles away.
That is unlikely to happen so I can only urge
you to agree to return to the September sitting and earlier start
to the summer recess. I believe many English colleagues would
welcome this too.
October 2004
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