MP HOLIDAYS (Part 2) - How do they plan to spend the summer recess?

In part two of a month-long feature, reporter DAN KEEL speaks to the area's representatives about their holiday plans during a break from Parliament which lasts until October 12.

Jacqui Lait - aged 61 - Beckenham - Conservative

1. How many holidays will you be going on during the summer recess? One.

2. Where are you going? To Australia in their winter for three weeks

3. What type of accommodation will you be staying in?Primarily hotels.

4. What will you be doing with the rest of your recess? Half of my day every day will be spent dealing with constituency and parliamentary business. I will also be working in my garden and would like to play some tennis.

5. Which book will you be reading on the beach? I will be reading history and biography with the odd detective novel.

6. What music will you be listening to on the plane? Classic.

7. What will you be thinking about while you are on holiday? Lots of things.

8. What's the first thing you will do when you return from your travels? Try and get the weeds in the garden under control.

9. Do you think the summer recess for MPs is too long? No as it is not a holiday, it is a different form of working with shorter hours.

10. Bikini or swimming suit? If I ever see a swimming pool, it will be a swimming costume!

Bridget Prentice - aged 56 - Lewisham East - Labour

1. How many holidays will you be going on during the summer recess? Well I am having one week away as well as two weekends.

2. Where are you going? I'm going to the south of Spain with some friends and then I hope to go to Clacton-on-sea and the Cotswolds.

3. What type of accommodation will you be staying in? A flat in Spain and bed and breakfasts for the weekends.

4. What will you be doing with the rest of your recess? There are lots of wardrobes which need sorting out at home. I also want to complete a jigsaw of the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. But I will be on duty for the Ministry of Justice for much of the holiday.

5. Which book will you be reading on the beach? I like reading detective novels.

6. What music will you be listening to on the plane? I like most music apart from heavy metal. I'm a fan of 60s pop including the Beatles and Simon and Garfunkel.

7. What will you be thinking about while you are on holiday? I'll be trying not to think of all the things I have to do when I get back. I will also start making plans for a friend's 60th birthday.

8. What's the first thing you will do when you return from your travels? Collect my cats and talk to them.

9. Do you think the summer recess for MPs is too long? No because at the end of it I'll still have lots of things to do which I haven't finished.

10. Bikini or swimming suit? I have been learning to swim at Downham Pools and am really excited about swimming in my new swim-suit. I'm not usually a beach person but I might have a swim in the sea. So, Dan, what will you be doing for your holidays?

John Austin - aged 64 - Erith and Thamesmead - Labour

1. How many holidays will you be going on during the summer recess? I have no firm plans yet but hope to get away for a couple of weeks.

2. Where are you going? Not applicable so no answer.

3. What type of accommodation will you be staying in? Not applicable so no answer.

4. What will you be doing with the rest of your recess? I will be working on constituency issues and at my Westminster office which will be open throughout the recess and I will be holding local surgeries as normal.

5. Which book will you be reading on the beach? No answer.

6. What music will you be listening to on the plane? No answer.

7. What will you be thinking about while you are on holiday? No answer.

8. What's the first thing you will do when you return from your travels? Sort through the mountain of post, and then either water or weed the garden.

9. Do you think the summer recess for MPs is too long? No answer.

10. Swimming trunks or swimming shorts? I am sure that News Shopper readers are not interested in my swimming attire.