This is not a market working well. It is a market that is broken

ACROSS the country, pupils are heading back to school after the summer break. And in classrooms the length breadth of and Scotland, there will be much talk of “what I did on my holidays”. But as The Sunday Post today reveals, really in the of what some pupils did was not a part parents had holidays, it was in term-time. Their taken them out of school early. is important Let’s be clear from the start – it to do all they that schools and parents continue in order to can to ensure good attendance, maintain children’s attainment. parents who But I have great sympathy with and are want to take the kids off on a break holiday then faced with the annual summer price hike. the price of Every year, as July rolls round, You do not get holidays increases massively. is exactly more for your money: the holiday It is just the price same in June, July and August. that rockets. kids the best For parents trying to give their to pull holiday they can, it is a huge temptation and beat the them out of school a week early may make the price hike. Indeed, for some, it holiday or staying difference between going on at home. I understand that. have to say that But, as education secretary, I kids’ schooling must come first. parents are That doesn’t stop me asking why school and a being forced to choose between simply trying to good holiday break. They are firms are do the best by their kids but holiday

hiking the price and forcing a choice on parents children. that is unfair on them and their the increased I understand perfectly well that particularly demand of the summer months, increases the once the English schools go off, be the whole price. But that is not meant to story. learns, the As every Higher Economics pupil time, the market is meant to correct. Over generate more increased price is supposed to fall. supply and cause the price to that is That is a core definition of a market comes to working properly. Yet, when it being children holidays, people have gone from pattern of a to adults to parents, and still the after decade. summer price hike holds, decade that is a That is not a market working well, market that is broken. pattern has held It is tempting, given the same the way for so long, to think that it is simply things have to be. should – ask But that’s not true. We can – and I am sure hard questions of the holiday firms. price gouging – they will argue that they are not – but it cannot be and I cannot say that they are of parents right that generation after generation school and are faced with the choice between kids. a decent summer holiday for their there is a While this debate over whether is one that better way takes place, that choice not blame them parents continue to face. I will ask that they for being tempted but I would the lure of keep their kids in school and resist lower holiday prices.