MPs rule out September sittings

September sittings were staged in 2003 and 2004 but then stopped

MPs have voted to continue having a long summer break, rather than hold parliamentary sittings in September.

A move to re-instate a two-week session ahead of the party conference season was defeated by a margin of nearly three to one in the Commons.

MPs also approved a "communications allowance", to keep in touch with voters, of up to £10,000 a year each.

Last week, it was revealed that MPs had claimed a total of almost £87m in allowances last year.

The Commons agreed an earlier start to the Parliamentary year in 2002, but only returned in September in 2003 and 2004.

'80-day holiday'

The extended sessions were halted in 2005 because of "essential security work" - the need to put up screens after protesters pelted Prime Minister Tony Blair with flour from the public gallery.

Labour MP Chris Mullin said the reinstated long summer break gave the government an "80-day holiday from scrutiny".

But Commons leader Jack Straw said the extended sittings had not turned out as intended.

The debate followed a Modernisation Committee report, which suggested ways to change some parliamentary business.

However, the Commons Commission claimed the extra sittings would cost about £1.5m a year.

David Winnick, the Labour MP who put forward an amendment calling for September sittings, said: "Surely our main job, the reason we were elected, was to be here to hold the government to account."

But shadow Commons leader Theresa May said not having sittings in September gave MPs more time to spend in their constituencies.

The communications allowance was backed by 290 votes to 199, a majority of 91.

September sittings were rejected by 354 votes to 122, a majority of 232.