Submission from Rt Hon Greg Knight MP
I thank you for your letter dated 29 June 2004
informing me of the forthcoming work of the Modernisation Committee.
The sittings in September were introduced by
your predecessor primarily—according to his comments to
me—to prevent the press from continually referring to MPs
having a three month holiday. I do not think the new arrangement
has worked in that however short our summer recess is, some sections
of the press still refer to MPs as being "on holiday all
summer" whereas in reality, many of us are working in our
constituencies.
In the light of this and in view of the disruption
that is caused, I personally would prefer a return to the earlier
arrangement as I do not think sittings in September have served
any useful purpose apart from disrupting Members' travel arrangements
on overseas visits with organisations such as the CPA and IPU.
July 2004
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