MP Ivan Lewis is pontificating again about parents taking their children out of school for a holiday. But why is he not advocating fines for the travel agents for inflating their prices during school holiday time?

He should have a thought for the head teachers in the front line and sit at their side when they receive abuse from parents over such a trivial matter.

Two weeks in a year is not very much, is it? After all, what do schools do in the last two weeks before the big summer holidays? Not very much.

I urge Mr Lewis to work with the travel agents and to see about fining them for increasing their prices. Parents have enough to pay for without facing fines just for taking their children out of school.

RADCLIFFE PARENT